Territorial Extent and Territorial Application Northern Ireland Abolition of Consumer Bodies Section 30: Abolition of “energywatch” and “Postwatch”
83.Subsection (1) abolishes energywatch.
84.Subsection (2) abolishes Postwatch.
85.Subsection (3) transfers the functions of energywatch and Postwatch to the Council.
86.Subsection (4) replaces a number of references to energywatch and Postwatch in existing legislation with references to the Council established under the Act. The new Council established by the Act will take over certain statutory functions of the existing consumer bodies under the Gas Act 1986 (c.44), Electricity Act 1989 (c.29), Utilities Act 2000 (c.27) and Postal Services Act 2000 (c.26). In particular, there are a number of statutory requirements to consult energywatch and Postwatch on certain issues. In future, those requirements will relate instead to the Council. Subsection (5) introduces Schedule 3, which contains transitional provisions in respect of the abolition of energywatch and Postwatch. As the existing National Consumer Council is a company limited by guarantee, there is no need to dissolve this body under the Act. Instead, it will be dissolved under the Companies Acts.