Section 117E: Agreements as to duties under sections 117A to 117D, Water Industry Act 1991

On the application of—

a sewerage licensee that has made a request under sections 117A to 117D, or

a sewerage undertaker to which such a request has been made,

the Authority may by order require a sewerage undertaker to perform the duty in question under sections 117A to 117D, for such period and on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the order.

The Authority may make an order under subsection (1) only if—

it appears to the Authority that the sewerage undertaker is required to perform the duty in question, and

it is satisfied that the parties cannot reach agreement within a reasonable time.

An order under subsection (1) has effect as an agreement between—

the sewerage licensee, and

the sewerage undertaker required to perform the duty in question.

On the application of a party to a section 117E agreement, the Authority may, if it is satisfied that the parties cannot reach agreement on the variation or termination of the agreement, by order vary or terminate the agreement.

If an order under subsection (4) is made in relation to a section 117E agreement, the agreement—

has effect subject to the provision made by the order, or

ceases to have effect, as the case may be.

An order under subsection (4) may require one party to the agreement to pay compensation to the other.

Neither the CMA nor the Authority may exercise, in respect of an agreement for the performance of a duty under sections 117A to 117D by a sewerage undertaker, the powers conferred by—

section 32 of the Competition Act 1998 (directions in relation to agreements);

section 35(2) of that Act (interim directions).

Subsection (7)(b) does not apply to the exercise of powers in respect of conduct—

which is connected with an agreement for the performance of a duty under sections 117A to 117D by a sewerage undertaker, and

in respect of which section 35(1) of the Competition Act 1998 applies because of an investigation under section 25 of that Act relating to a suspected infringement of the Chapter 2 prohibition imposed by section 18(1) of that Act.

In this Chapter a reference to a section 117E agreement is a reference to—

an agreement for the performance of a duty under sections 117A to 117D by a sewerage undertaker, or

an order deemed to be such an agreement under subsection (3), or

an agreement varied by order under subsection (4).

Section 117E: Agreements as to duties under sections 117A to 117D

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