Policy background Part 7: Market Reform and Consumer Protection Principal objectives of Secretary of State and the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
GEMA, the governing body of Ofgem, has its duties set out in the Gas Act 1986 and Electricity Act 1989.
	The Secretary of State and the Authority are each given a principal objective by S4AA Gas Act 1986 and S3A Electricity Act 1989 which applies when carrying out their respective functions under Part 1 of the Gas 1986 and Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989. This principal objective is to protect the interests of existing and future consumers taken as a whole when carrying out those functions.
	The Act amends the GEMA’s duties by including reference to the net zero and carbon budgets targets set out in the Climate Change Act 2008.
	This will require Ofgem and the Secretary of State to consider how decisions may assist the Secretary of State in meeting the government’s net zero and carbon budget targets, when carrying out their functions under Part 1 of the Gas 1986 and Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989.
	Amending the GEMA’s duties in this way will ensure that the regulator is clear that it has a duty to assist the government to achieve net zero and carbon budget targets.