Utilities Act 2000

<p>The Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27) is an <a href="/facts/Act_of_Parliament/aaxV1HXy">Act</a> of the <a href="/facts/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom/7bFbPI9g">Parliament of the United Kingdom</a> that deals with the gas and electrical markets in the UK. It mainly modified the <a href="/facts/Gas_Act_1986/ah8GLYSx">Gas Act 1986</a>, the <a href="/facts/Gas_Act_1995/ah8GLYSx">Gas Act 1995</a> and <a href="/facts/Electricity_Act_1989/xRjXhKnb">Electricity Act 1989</a>. One of the greatest changes was that integrated electricity companies were required to have separate licences for each of their businesses such as supply or distribution. The act was originally supposed to deal with water and telecoms as well, but following industry pressure they were dropped.
</p><p>Section 105 of the Act is intended to protect <a href="/facts/National_security/DlmpehRa">national security</a>; it prohibits the disclosure of certain types of information relevant to the energy sector, with penalties of fines and up to two years' imprisonment for breaches. The section has been used by <a href="/facts/Ofgem/DlfFELBm">Ofgem</a> to threaten <a href="/facts/Whistleblowers/Ah5QHEW1">whistleblowers</a> informing their managers and the <a href="/facts/National_Audit_Office_(United_Kingdom)/ByAyp4Da">National Audit Office</a> of misspends of millions of pounds. The <a href="/facts/Employment_Appeal_Tribunal/0cxBBkqA">Employment Appeal Tribunal</a> found that the law  contravened the <a href="/facts/European_Convention_on_Human_Rights/yEyFjz25">European Convention on Human Rights</a>.
</p>

Utilities Act 2000 open-in-new

Utilities Act 2000