Commentary on Sections Part 2: Electricity Market Reform Chapter 7: The renewables obligation: transitional arrangements. Section 55: Closure of support under the renewables obligation
282.Subsection (1) inserts new sections 32LA and 32LB to the Electricity Act 1989 to confer a power on the Secretary of State to make a renewables obligation closure order. The closure order will prevent renewables obligation certificates from being issued under any renewables obligation order (whether made by the Secretary of State or by the Scottish Ministers) in respect of electricity generated after a specified date (section 32LA(2)). Different closure dates may be specified for different cases or circumstances (section 32LA(3)). The powers in sections 32 to 32M of the Electricity Act 1989 (renewables obligation) will be subject to any provisions contained in a closure order (section 32LA(7)). The closure order may make provision as to the functions of the Authority in relation to the closure of the renewables obligation and may make transitional provision and savings (section 32LA(8)). Subsections (2) and (3) make consequential amendments to sections 32M (interpretation) and section 106 (regulations and orders) of the Electricity Act 1989. Subsection (4) provides the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland with the power to amend corresponding legislation in relation to the Northern Ireland renewables obligation to take account of the amendments made by subsection (1).