Citation, commencement and interpretation

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity (Amendment) Regulations 2006 and shall come into force on 1st October 2006.

(2) In these Regulations—

(a) “the ESQCR” means the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002( 2 ); and

(b) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a numbered regulation or paragraph is a reference to a regulation or paragraph bearing that number in the ESQCR.

Amendment to British Standard Requirements

2. In regulation 1(5), in the definition of “British Standard Requirements”, after “February 2002” insert “and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 (AMD 14905) March 2004”.

Application of ESQCR to tramways etc.

3. In regulation 1(5)—

(a) in each of the definitions of “consumer” and “distributor”, after “1993” insert “or an operator of a tramway, a trolley vehicle system or guided transport”; and

(b) at the end of the definition of “switching device”, delete the word “and” and insert—

“ “tramway”, “trolley vehicle system” and “guided transport” have the same meanings as in section 67(1) of the Transport and Works Act 1992 ( 3 ) ; and ” .

Avoidance of supply interruptions caused by trees

4. —(1) In regulation 2, insert the following paragraph after paragraph (7)—

“ (7A) Regulation 20A shall not apply until 6 years after the coming into force of these Regulations. ” .

(2) After regulation 20, insert the following—

“ PART VA AVOIDANCE OF INTERFERENCE WITH OR INTERRUPTION OF SUPPLY CAUSED BY TREES

20A. A generator or distributor shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that there is no interference with or interruption of supply caused by an insufficient clearance between any of his overhead lines and a tree or other vegetation. ” .

Application of ESQCR to offshore waters

5. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the ESQCR (as amended by these Regulations) shall apply in relation to activities carried on in the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain and the Renewable Energy Zone.

(2) The following regulations shall not apply in relation to such activities—

(a) 9 (protective multiple earthing);

(b) 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20A and Schedule 2 (overhead lines);

(c) 21 (switched alternative sources of energy);

(d) 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 (supplies to installations and to other networks); and

(e) 32 and Schedule 4 (notifications of certain interruptions in supply).

(3) In this regulation “Renewable Energy Zone” means those areas of the sea designated in the Renewable Energy Zone (Designation of Area) Order 2004( 4 ).