Page:Electricity Act 2001.pdf/48

Rh (4) A contestable consumer shall not purchase electricity directly from any wholesale electricity market unless he is granted a licence by the Authority to do so and is registered as a market participant in accordance with the market rules.

(5) A consumer shall have the option to, within a period of 30 days from the date on which he is classified under subsection (1) as a contestable consumer (or such further period as the Authority may determine)—
 * (a) commence purchasing electricity under a contract with a retail electricity licensee; or
 * (b) commence purchasing electricity directly from any wholesale electricity market.

(6) If a consumer commences purchasing electricity under subsection (5) (a) or (b) and has an existing agreement under which any person supplies and sells electricity to the consumer, that agreement shall cease to have effect from the date on which the consumer commences purchasing electricity under the relevant option.

(7) If a consumer does not commence purchasing electricity under subsection (5) (a) or (b), he shall be deemed to commence purchasing electricity indirectly from any wholesale electricity market through a market support services licensee at prevailing market prices with effect from the date immediately after the expiry of the period referred to in that subsection.

(8) Where subsection (7) is applicable and the consumer has an existing agreement under which any person supplies and sells electricity to the consumer, that agreement shall cease to have effect from the date immediately after the expiry of the period referred to in subsection (5).

(9) Notwithstanding subsections (5) and (7), a contestable consumer may, at any time after the expiry of the period referred to in subsection (5), enter into an arrangement to purchase electricity for consumption on his own premises under any one of the options specified under subsection (3).

(10) At such time when—
 * (a) a contestable consumer does not, cannot or no longer wishes to purchase electricity from a retail electricity licensee or directly from any wholesale electricity market; or