# Energy Act 1976

The Energy Act 1976 (c. 76) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which empowered the Secretary of State to control the production, supply, acquisition and use of fuels and electricity, and included measures for the conservation of fuels.

## Background

The Fuel and Electricity (Control) Act 1973 had been enacted during the 1973 oil crisis, but had to be renewed annually. The Government thought it would be expedient to put these emergency powers on a permanent basis. The Energy Act 1976 enacted this provision and included a number of other energy related requirements. The Government wished to develop policies for the conservation of energy, and to comply with European Council directives and enforce EEC (EU) regulations in the energy field. Furthermore, there were a number of provisions in existing legislation that needed to be updated. These included the regulation of flaring and venting unignited gas into the atmosphere. The British Gas Corporation was relieved from its obligation under the Gas Act 1972 to meet demands for new or additional supplies of gas to large users. It provided the Secretary of State with the power to make Orders requiring the fuel consumption of cars to be made public. It also raised the upper limit of the contributions payable under Section 2 of the Electricity Act 1972 from £25 million to £45 million.

## The Energy Act 1976

The Energy Act 1976 (1976 chapter 76) received Royal Assent on 22 November 1976. Its long title is ‘An Act to make further provision with respect to the nation's resources and use of energy’.

### Provisions

The Act comprises 23 Section and 4 Schedules
Permanent and reserve powers for energy conservation and control
* Section 1 General control by order
* Section 2 Reserve power to control by government directions
* Section 3 Implementation of reserve powers
* Section 4 Other powers
* Section 5 Temporary relief from restrictive practices law
Maintenance of fuel reserves
* Section 6 Bulk stocks of petroleum, etc.
* Section 7 Fuel stocks at power stations
Offshore natural gas
* Section 8 Supply of offshore natural gas
* Section 9 Use and liquefaction of offshore natural gas
* Section 10 Supplementary provisions as to consents
* Section 11 Interpretation of ss.8 to 10
Other measures for controlling energy sources and promoting economy
* Section 12 Disposal of gas by flaring, etc.
* Section 13 Restriction on obligation to supply gas
* Section 14 Fuelling of new and converted power stations
* Section 15 Passenger car fuel consumption
Miscellaneous and general
* Section 16 Finance for power projects
* Section 17 Orders and directions
* Section 18 Administration, enforcement and offences
* Section 19 Penalties
* Section 20 Financial provision
* Section 21 Interpretation
* Section 22 Repeals and savings
* Section 23 Citation, commencement and extent
Schedules
* Schedule 1 Relaxations of Road Traffic and Transport Law Permissible under Section 4(2)
* Schedule 2 Administration and other matters
* Schedule 3 Community Obligations of which Breach is Punishable under this Act
* Schedule 4 Repeals and Savings

## Effects of the Act

The Act repealed the Fuel and Electricity (Control) Act 1973 except as it applied to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The Act which is still in force (in 2020) includes provisions for:
* bulk stocks of petroleum
* liquefaction of offshore natural gas
* disposal of gas by flaring
* fuelling of new and converted power stations
* passenger car fuel consumption.

## Amendments

Section 8 of the 1976 Act was repealed by the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982. Section 16 was repealed by the Electricity Act 1989. Sections 12A and 12B were inserted by the Energy Act 2016.