Part 9: Energy Smart Appliances and Load Control Chapter 3: Licensing of Load Control Section 245: Power to amend licence conditions etc: load control
This section allows the Secretary of State to amend existing special and standard licence conditions granted under Section 6(1) of the Electricity Act 1989 and 7A(1) and 7AB of the Gas Act 1986. It also allows the modification of electricity codes (i.e. a document maintained under electricity licences). It may be used to facilitate, promote or regulate remote load control of energy smart appliances, including by ensuring their security, where load control means communicating with devices to alter their electricity consumption or export. For example, modifying licences in the event a load control organisation is also a supplier to clarify the interaction between the two licences.
	A non-prescriptive list of specific ways in which this power may be used is given. It specifies, for instance, that the provision of load control services may be prohibited in respect of certain devices (for instance those which do not meet relevant technical specifications) or may be regulated by reference to those devices (for instance by imposing requirements for the control or configuration of devices to which load control services apply).
	This modification power can be exercised to make different provisions in relation to different classes of customer (for example domestic, small business or medium/larger businesses). The Secretary of State may also make any necessary and relevant incidental, supplementary, consequential or transitional modifications to licence conditions or documents.
	This section states that the power to modify licence conditions cannot be exercised after a period of 10 years (beginning when the power comes into force). It also allows for the Secretary of State to extend this period by up to three years at a time, subject to the affirmative procedure.