Part 3: Regulation of Gas and Electricity Markets Adjustment of energy charges Commentary on Sections Section 26: Adjustment of charges to help disadvantaged groups of customers
131.Subsection (1) gives the Secretary of State the power to make a scheme that will adjust charges for gas and/or electricity if the Secretary of State considers one set of customers of a particular energy supplier are treated less favourably than another set of customers. Subsections (3) to (5) provide that these sets of customers can consist of any combination of the following: the electricity customers of that supplier, the gas customers of that supplier, customers that are supplied with both gas and electricity, or any sub-division of these groups. For example, electricity customers could be sub-divided into those who have access to the gas network and those who do not.
132.Subsection (6) specifies which energy charges (gas and/or electricity) the Secretary of State may consider. Subsection (7) allows the Secretary of State to make any appropriate calculations or assumptions to establish whether a particular set of customers is being treated less favourably when comparing different charges for the same type of energy, or charges for different types of energy.