Commentary on Sections Part 2: Sustainability and Renewable Energy Sources Chapter 2: Offshore Production of Energy Section 89: Activities offshore requiring 1989 Act licences
245.Section 4 of the Electricity Act 1989 prohibits the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity to any premises without a licence (section 135 of this Act amends section 4 in respect of transmission activities requiring a licence while section 145(2) also amends section 4 to include the participation in the operation of an electricity interconnector as a licensable activity). Section 5 of that Act gives a power to the Secretary of State to grant exemptions from this licensing requirement and section 6 provides for the issue of licences. This section amends section 4 of the Electricity Act so that the prohibitions (and licensing and exemption regime) also apply in a Renewable Energy Zone and confirms that the regime applies in the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain.