Order, order!

Protecting Energy Consumers Bill

A
BILL
TO

Reform practices in the National Energy Sector to ensure consumer welfare and promote more efficient energy pricing.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Definitions

(1) Private suppliers are defined as persons which purchase electricity supplied by a private generator, later reselling the electricity.

(2) Private generators are defined as persons who generate electricity on the National Grid for sale.

2 National Grid Direct Purchase Access

(1) Private suppliers shall be prohibited from accessing the Direct Energy Exchange established by subsection (2).

The Secretary of State shall be tasked with hiring employees of these companies to administer the new Direct Energy Market.

(2) The Secretary of State shall in lieu of private suppliers authorize the creation of a Direct Energy Exchange (DEE), which shall be a government facilitated database of energy options for consumers to buy directly from private companies generating energy on the National Grid.

The Secretary of State shall produce such regulations as necessary to ensure no one energy generator company dominates a geographic region or type of energy purchase, and is authorized to distribute tax credits to encourage regional and service based competition.

(3) Once an agreement between a consumer and a National Grid company has been reached the Secretary of State shall provide if needed a tax credit for the consumer to pay transmission or distribution companies fees previously paid by suppliers for transmission or distribution rights.

3 Relief for displaced employees

(1) During a three-year period following this Act receiving Assent (the 'phase-out period'), the Secretary of State shall make provision to afford re-training opportunities to qualifying employees.

(2) The DEE shall have regard for the needs of qualifying employees during the phase-out period.

(3) In this section a 'qualifying employee' is an employee of a private supplier who is liable to be—
(a) adversely affected financially by the effects of this Act during and after the phase-out period; and
(b) harmed over an extended period of time without intervention.

4 Governance of the Direct Energy Exchange

(1) The DEE is to be governed by the Direct Energy Exchange Board (the Board).

(2) Members of the Board shall be—
(a) no more than 7 in number;
(b) remunerated for their services;
(c) independent of any market participants in the discharge of their duties;
(d) appointed by the Secretary of State in the event of a vacancy
(e) knowledgeable in matters of business, the electricity industry, and consumer issues.

(3) The Board shall promulgate a Code of Practice (the Code) to govern the operations of the DEE and settle disputes. (4) The Board must ensure that the Code upholds the following principles
(a) non-discrimination among and between market participants;
(b) the promotion of competition;
(c) natural justice in the settlement of disputes;
(d) the reliable supply of electricity to consumers;
(e) the efficient operation of the electricity industry.

(5) The Code may be amended by the Board as needed following a period of consultation no longer than 60 days.

(6) The Board has a duty to publish the Code as amended.

(7) In the settlement of disputes, the Board may establish a subordinate arbitration panel and issue pecuniary punishments against those participants found in violation of the Code.

5 Commencement, Extent and Short Title

(1) This Act shall come into force on the date after the day of receiving Royal assent, except section 2(1) which shall come into force three years after this date.

(2) This Act shall extend to England and Wales, and Scotland.

(3) This Act shall be known as the Protecting Energy Consumers Act

This bill was written by the Right Honourable jgm0228 QC MP for South Yorkshire, Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government.

The vote will end on the 13th.