330:
the generation and transmission of electricity for such supply; to abolish the
Electricity Consumers' Council and the Consultative Councils established under the Electricity Act 1947; to provide for the vesting of the property, rights and liabilities of the Electricity Boards and the Electricity Council in companies nominated by the Secretary of State and the subsequent dissolution of those Boards and that Council; to provide for the giving of financial assistance in connection with the storage and reprocessing of nuclear fuel, the treatment, storage and disposal of radioactive waste and the decommissioning of nuclear installations; to amend the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 and the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973; and for connected purposes’.
34:
301:(1983–89) in the Thatcher cabinet. The government recognised that the electricity industries in Europe and the United States operated successfully under private ownership. In contrast the Central Electricity Generating Board was seen as 'inflexible, bureaucratic, secretive and largely outside of political control'. Proposals for the privatisation of the electricity industry were published in 1988. Nuclear plant and 60 percent of conventional generation was to be vested in a large company codenamed 'Big G', the remaining conventional plant in 'Little G'. However, the government were unable to sell the nuclear plant. The CEGB was therefore split into four companies:
60:
for such supply; to abolish the
Electricity Consumers' Council and the Consultative Councils established under the Electricity Act 1947; to provide for the vesting of the property, rights and liabilities of the Electricity Boards and the Electricity Council in companies nominated by the Secretary of State and the subsequent dissolution of those Boards and that Council; to provide for the giving of financial assistance in connection with the storage and reprocessing of nuclear fuel, the treatment, storage and disposal of radioactive waste and the decommissioning of nuclear installations; to amend the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 and
637:(OFGEM) which merged and abolished the Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER) and Office of Gas Supply (OFGAS). The Act also amended sections of Electricity Act 1989: these included those relating to electricity licensing; the duties of electricity distributors; the electricity code and metering; the powers of electricity licence holders; electricity performance standards; enforcement of obligations; remuneration and service standards; electricity from renewable sources; and some miscellaneous provisions.
583:
Coordination of generation, transmission and distribution was achieved through the establishment of a wholesale pool operated by the
National Grid Company. The electricity generators are paid the pool purchase price and users pay the pool selling price. The pool operator ranks the generators by their
329:
on 27 July 1989. The long title of the Act is ‘An Act to provide for the appointment and functions of a
Director General of Electricity Supply and of consumers' committees for the electricity supply industry; to make new provision with respect to the supply of electricity through electric lines and
59:
An Act to provide for the appointment and functions of a
Director General of Electricity Supply and of consumers' committees for the electricity supply industry; to make new provision with respect to the supply of electricity through electric lines and the generation and transmission of electricity
560:
in Norweb plc. At first the RECs jointly owned the
National Grid; they floated the National Grid Company on the stock market in late 1995. The RECs were floated on the stock market on 11 December 1990. Most of the companies have since been acquired by other utility companies.
648:
and defined responsibilities for the decommissioning and cleaning up of civil nuclear installations and sites. Sections 3A, 29, 30, 43, 58, 64, and 98 of the 1989 Act were amended by
Section 147 of the 2004 Act. Schedule 12 of the 1989 Act was amended by section 34 of the 2004 Act.
580:(OFFER). This was an economic regulator independent of government, but accountable to Parliament. This arrangement separated the regulatory decisions from political control and aimed to provide greater long term regulatory certainty and to encourage market entry and investment.
607:. The Board was dissolved in March 1990 and privatised in June 1991. Upon privatisation ScottishPower was created in 1990 largely from the South of Scotland Electricity Board. The nuclear power stations in Scotland (Hunterston A and B and Torness) were vested in
541:. The public were offered shares in 60 percent of both National Power and PowerGen in 1991, the remaining shares were offered to the public in 1995. These companies have subsequently been subject to acquisitions, mergers, de-mergers and rebranding.
656:
established a renewables obligation for generating electricity from renewable sources; made provisions for the decommissioning and clean-up of nuclear sites; and the provision of smart meters.
591:
In
Scotland, unlike in England and Wales, the electricity industry was already organised as an integrated generation, distribution, and supply structure. There were two electricity boards: the
695:
525:
In
England and Wales the electricity generating and transmission functions of the Central Electricity Generating Board were divided on 31 March 1990 into three new companies, namely:
213:
349:– Sections 1 to 3 – including the establishment of the Director General of Electricity Supply; Consumer's Committees; and general duties of the Secretary of State and the Director
367:– Sections 16 to 24 – duty to supply; exceptions; power to recover charges, expenditure and to require security; terms of supply; agreements; disputes; electricity supply code
618:
is the electricity asset owner of the transmission and distribution infrastructure in
Northern Ireland, it was established in 1993 when the business was privatised.
893:
355:– Sections 4 to 10 – including prohibition of unlicensed supply; licences authorising supply; conditions of licences; general duties and powers of licence holders
700:
158:
908:
273:. The Act also established a licensing regime and a regulator for the industry called the Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER), which has since become the
621:
The 1989 act repealed the Electric Lighting Acts dating from 1882, the Electricity (Supply) Acts 1919 and 1926, and the Electricity Acts 1947, 1957 and 1972.
203:
270:
72:
634:
577:
274:
254:
153:
128:
705:
592:
266:
168:
871:
846:
808:
776:
751:
645:
600:
173:
603:
was formed on 1 April 1989 to acquire the assets the North of Scotland Board ahead of privatisation, the name was later changed to
183:
38:
208:
61:
596:
148:
143:
138:
710:
615:
193:
188:
385:– Sections 32 to 38 – non-fossil fuels; levy; fuel stocks; consent to construct; overhead lines; amenity and fisheries
604:
545:
298:
537:. Later, the nuclear facilities within National Power was separated and vested in another state-owned company called
668:
133:
123:
118:
568:
and its coordinating and policy-making functions were abolished by the 1989 Act. Although a residuary body, the
898:
553:
903:
198:
534:
314:
46:
685:
680:
178:
163:
671:; and to create schemes for energy suppliers to give benefits to customers to reduce fuel poverty.
565:
317:. The privatisation of the electricity supply industries was enacted by the Electricity Act 1989.
690:
664:
630:
293:
government in the 1980s. This has been called the Thatcher-Lawson agenda, due to the key role of
230:
867:
842:
804:
772:
747:
433:– Sections 60 to 64 – power to make regulations; public inquiries; Crown land; interpretation
361:– Sections 11 to 15 – modification by agreement; Monopolies Commission; reports; and by order
290:
97:
608:
538:
310:
660:
653:
641:
237:
722:
544:
From 31 March 1990 the regional electricity distribution and sales functions of twelve
530:
306:
887:
588:
according to the time of day and estimates of demand to set a market clearing price.
286:
250:
409:– Sections 47 to 50 – general; publication of information; register; annual reports
338:
The provisions of the Act comprise 113 sections in three parts, plus 18 schedules.
326:
294:
87:
373:– Sections 25 to 28 – orders; procedures; validity; power to require information
585:
572:
continued to operate for a few years. Section 1 of the 1989 Act established the
391:– Sections 39 to 42 – performance; efficient use; information on performance
249:(c. 29) provided for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in
427:– Sections 57 to 59 – disclosure; restricting information; false statements
526:
302:
744:
Thatcher's Britain: The Politics and Social Upheaval of the Thatcher Era
421:– Sections 54 to 56 – Abolition; compensation; continuity of employment
663:
required the Government to prepare reports on the progress made on the
258:
557:
667:
of electricity generation in Britain and the development and use of
839:
Privatization in the European Union: Theory and Policy Perspectives
864:
The Official History of Privatisation: Popular capitalism, 1987-97
262:
616:
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited (NIE Networks)
289:
of the energy markets in the United Kingdom began with the
415:– Sections 51 to 53 – duties; reports; National Committee
204:
The Electricity (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1976
803:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 58–60.
696:
Privatization of the Central Electricity Generating Board
769:
Unsettling Welfare: The Reconstruction of Social Policy
379:– Sections 29 to 31 – regulations; inspectors; meters
214:
Electricity (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1988
403:– Sections 45 and 46 – enforcement and other matters
801:
International Comparisons of Electricity Regulation
799:Gilbert, Richard J.; Khan, Edward P., eds. (2007).
419:
Provisions with respect to Consumers’ etc. Councils
397:– Sections 43 to 44 – competition; maximum charges
236:
229:
222:
111:
106:
96:
86:
81:
71:
45:
614:The 1989 act does not apply to Northern Ireland.
169:Civil Defence (Electricity Undertakings) Act 1954
701:Timeline of the UK electricity supply industry
556:was vested in London Electricity plc, and the
174:Electricity Reorganisation (Scotland) Act 1954
159:Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943
8:
21:
767:Hughes, Gordon; Lewis, Gail, eds. (1998).
466:Provisions with respect to existing bodies
20:
62:the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
734:
484:Part III Miscellaneous and Supplemental
57:
894:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1989
597:North of Scotland Hydro-electric Board
574:Director General of Electricity Supply
437:Part II Reorganisation of the industry
365:Supply by public electricity suppliers
271:North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board
635:Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
413:Provisions with respect to Committees
275:Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
231:Text of statute as originally enacted
7:
909:Electric power in the United Kingdom
832:
830:
828:
826:
824:
822:
820:
794:
792:
790:
788:
460:Provisions with respect to flotation
255:Central Electricity Generating Board
154:Electricity Supply (Meters) Act 1936
129:Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act 1899
706:Energy policy of the United Kingdom
593:South of Scotland Electricity Board
267:South of Scotland Electricity Board
325:The Electricity Act 1989 received
238:Revised text of statute as amended
14:
646:Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
601:North of Scotland Electricity plc
501:Amendment etc. of pension schemes
377:Provisions with respect to supply
578:Office of Electricity Regulation
448:Ownership of successor companies
442:Transfers to successor companies
184:Electricity (Amendment) Act 1961
39:Parliament of the United Kingdom
32:
558:North Western Electricity Board
454:Finances of successor companies
209:Electricity (Scotland) Act 1979
866:. Routledge. pp. 355–64.
584:offer price and establishes a
550:regional electricity companies
1:
383:Protection of public interest
149:Electricity (Supply) Act 1926
144:Electricity (Supply) Act 1922
139:Electricity (Supply) Act 1919
64:; and for connected purposes.
711:Energy in the United Kingdom
194:Gas and Electricity Act 1968
189:Electricity and Gas Act 1963
837:Parker, David, ed. (1998).
746:. Simon & Schuster UK.
605:Scottish Hydro-Electric plc
548:were vested in independent
407:Other functions of Director
401:Investigation of complaints
299:Chancellor of the Exchequer
925:
669:Carbon Capture and Storage
444:– Sections 64 to 70
134:Electric Lighting Act 1909
124:Electric Lighting Act 1888
119:Electric Lighting Act 1882
18:United Kingdom legislation
771:. Routledge. p. 89.
552:(RECs). For example, the
371:Enforcement of provisions
342:Part I Electricity Supply
265:and by restructuring the
31:
26:
570:Electricity Association,
554:London Electricity Board
359:Modification of licenses
353:Licensing of supply etc.
742:Vinen, Richard (2010).
546:area electricity boards
503:– Sections 104 and 105
495:Amendment of enactments
285:The liberalisation and
862:Parker, David (2012).
509:– Sections 106 to 113
497:– Sections 100 to 103
535:National Grid Company
468:– Sections 84 and 88
462:– Sections 82 and 83
315:National Grid Company
723:Electricity Act 1989
686:Electricity Act 1957
681:Electricity Act 1947
491:– Sections 96 to 99
480:– Sections 93 to 95
474:– Sections 89 to 92
456:– Sections 75 to 81
450:– Sections 71 to 74
321:Electricity Act 1989
247:Electricity Act 1989
199:Electricity Act 1972
179:Electricity Act 1957
164:Electricity Act 1947
22:Electricity Act 1989
625:Later amending acts
566:Electricity Council
395:Consumer protection
389:Consumer protection
253:, by replacing the
23:
691:Utilities Act 2000
631:Utilities Act 2000
521:Effects of the act
517:Schedules 1 to 18
629:Section 1 of the
291:Margaret Thatcher
243:
242:
107:Other legislation
27:Act of Parliament
916:
878:
877:
859:
853:
852:
834:
815:
814:
796:
783:
782:
764:
758:
757:
739:
644:established the
633:established the
609:Scottish Nuclear
539:Nuclear Electric
311:Nuclear Electric
102:1 September 1989
36:
35:
24:
924:
923:
919:
918:
917:
915:
914:
913:
899:1989 in England
884:
883:
882:
881:
874:
861:
860:
856:
849:
836:
835:
818:
811:
798:
797:
786:
779:
766:
765:
761:
754:
741:
740:
736:
731:
719:
677:
665:decarbonisation
661:Energy Act 2010
654:Energy Act 2008
642:Energy Act 2004
627:
523:
336:
323:
283:
225:
224:Status: Amended
218:
112:Repeals/revokes
67:
56:
55:
41:
33:
19:
12:
11:
5:
922:
920:
912:
911:
906:
901:
896:
886:
885:
880:
879:
872:
854:
847:
816:
809:
784:
777:
759:
752:
733:
732:
730:
727:
726:
725:
718:
717:External links
715:
714:
713:
708:
703:
698:
693:
688:
683:
676:
673:
626:
623:
531:National Power
522:
519:
335:
332:
322:
319:
307:National Power
282:
279:
241:
240:
234:
233:
227:
226:
223:
220:
219:
217:
216:
211:
206:
201:
196:
191:
186:
181:
176:
171:
166:
161:
156:
151:
146:
141:
136:
131:
126:
121:
115:
113:
109:
108:
104:
103:
100:
94:
93:
90:
84:
83:
79:
78:
75:
69:
68:
66:
65:
53:
52:
51:
49:
43:
42:
37:
29:
28:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
921:
910:
907:
905:
904:1989 in Wales
902:
900:
897:
895:
892:
891:
889:
875:
873:9780415692212
869:
865:
858:
855:
850:
848:9780415154697
844:
841:. Routledge.
840:
833:
831:
829:
827:
825:
823:
821:
817:
812:
810:9780521030779
806:
802:
795:
793:
791:
789:
785:
780:
778:9780415181341
774:
770:
763:
760:
755:
753:9781847392091
749:
745:
738:
735:
728:
724:
721:
720:
716:
712:
709:
707:
704:
702:
699:
697:
694:
692:
689:
687:
684:
682:
679:
678:
674:
672:
670:
666:
662:
657:
655:
650:
647:
643:
638:
636:
632:
624:
622:
619:
617:
612:
610:
606:
602:
598:
594:
589:
587:
581:
579:
575:
571:
567:
562:
559:
555:
551:
547:
542:
540:
536:
532:
528:
520:
518:
515:
514:
510:
508:
504:
502:
498:
496:
492:
490:
489:Miscellaneous
486:
485:
481:
479:
475:
473:
472:Miscellaneous
469:
467:
463:
461:
457:
455:
451:
449:
445:
443:
439:
438:
434:
432:
428:
426:
425:Miscellaneous
422:
420:
416:
414:
410:
408:
404:
402:
398:
396:
392:
390:
386:
384:
380:
378:
374:
372:
368:
366:
362:
360:
356:
354:
350:
348:
344:
343:
339:
333:
331:
328:
320:
318:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
287:privatisation
280:
278:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
251:Great Britain
248:
239:
235:
232:
228:
221:
215:
212:
210:
207:
205:
202:
200:
197:
195:
192:
190:
187:
185:
182:
180:
177:
175:
172:
170:
167:
165:
162:
160:
157:
155:
152:
150:
147:
145:
142:
140:
137:
135:
132:
130:
127:
125:
122:
120:
117:
116:
114:
110:
105:
101:
99:
95:
91:
89:
85:
80:
76:
74:
70:
63:
58:
50:
48:
44:
40:
30:
25:
16:
863:
857:
838:
800:
768:
762:
743:
737:
658:
651:
639:
628:
620:
613:
590:
582:
573:
569:
563:
549:
543:
524:
516:
512:
511:
507:Supplemental
506:
505:
500:
499:
494:
493:
488:
487:
483:
482:
478:Supplemental
477:
476:
471:
470:
465:
464:
459:
458:
453:
452:
447:
446:
441:
440:
436:
435:
431:Supplemental
430:
429:
424:
423:
418:
417:
412:
411:
406:
405:
400:
399:
394:
393:
388:
387:
382:
381:
376:
375:
370:
369:
364:
363:
358:
357:
352:
351:
347:Introductory
346:
345:
341:
340:
337:
327:royal assent
324:
295:Nigel Lawson
284:
246:
244:
98:Commencement
92:27 July 1989
88:Royal assent
15:
586:merit order
888:Categories
729:References
334:Provisions
281:Background
77:1989 c. 29
54:Long title
47:Long title
513:Schedules
277:(OFGEM).
675:See also
595:and the
576:and the
527:PowerGen
303:PowerGen
269:and the
73:Citation
259:England
870:
845:
807:
775:
750:
263:Wales
82:Dates
868:ISBN
843:ISBN
805:ISBN
773:ISBN
748:ISBN
659:The
652:The
640:The
564:The
533:and
313:and
297:the
261:and
245:The
257:in
890::
819:^
787:^
611:.
599:.
529:,
309:,
305:,
876:.
851:.
813:.
781:.
756:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.