§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many statutory instruments have been laid before Parliament; and what ministerial guidance notes have been issued to implement the commitment in the Utilities Act 2000 on energy supplies from renewables. [15644]
§ Mr. WilsonUnder section 67 of the Utilities Act 2000 the following statutory instruments (SIs) have been made:
- The Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources Saving Arrangements Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/2727)
- The Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources Saving Arrangements (Amendment) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/3268)
- The Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources (Scotland) Saving Arrangements Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/3269 (S.17)).
These SIs ensure the preservation of arrangements which were made under section 32 of the Electricity Act 1989 to secure the availability of capacity from non-fossil fuel sources. It was necessary to take such measures on the coming into effect of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements and on the splitting of Public Electricity Suppliers into separate supply and distribution companies.
Ministerial guidance notes have not been issued on these SIs, but they are accompanied by any necessary explanatory notes.
It is proposed that further SIs will be made under section 62 of the Utilities Act 2000 in order to introduce the Renewables Obligation. Drafts of those SIs have recently been put out to statutory consultation and the Department is in the process of considering the responses given.
It is also proposed to make a further SI under section 67 of the Utilities Act 2000 in order to permit locational flexibility for certain NFFO projects. A draft of this proposed SI is out for informal consultation.