157.The commentary on sections 98 - 99 is provided alongside the equivalent provisions for electricity (paragraphs 127 – 128 above).
158.Section 100: Exercise of power to make regulations. This section amends the 1986 Act so that regulations made by the Authority under Part I of that Act are not subject to Parliamentary approval. This is in line with the principle of arm's length regulation by the regulatory authority and aligns the procedure with that which currently applies in the 1989 Act.
159.Section 101: Standards of gas quality. The present regulatory regime does not provide for the regulation of gas quality issues which do not have a significant safety aspect but which may nevertheless have a substantial impact on consumers. This section addresses the gap by conferring on the Authority a power to make regulations regulating the quality of gas which may be conveyed by gas transporters to premises or to pipeline systems operated by other gas transporters in relation to pressure and purity, and other standards with respect to the properties, condition and composition of gas so conveyed.
160.The Authority’s exercise of this power will be subject to the consent of the Secretary of State. The Authority is to be required to consult such persons and organisations as it considers appropriate before making any regulations.
161.The Health and Safety Executive has, and will retain, a power to regulate gas quality insofar as safety may be affected. The new power for the Authority will ensure that there is no regulatory gap in relation to non-safety issues of gas quality. The duty on the Authority to consult the Health and Safety Executive on safety matters should ensure that, where a gas quality issue has both safety and non-safety aspects, the issue is identified and addressed by the appropriate body.
162.The commentary on section 102 is provided alongside the equivalent section for electricity (paragraphs 134 – 136 above).
Commentary on Sections Part V: Amendment of the Gas Act 1986 Sections 98 - 102: Miscellaneous