Amendment of the Canberra Electric Supply Regulations (ACT)

The case concerns the amendment of the Canberra Electric Supply Regulations, specifically Regulation 6A, which was enacted under the Building and Services Ordinance 1924-1934. The regulation altered the charging structure for electricity supplied to churches, allowing them to choose between domestic or commercial rates, with the option being non-reversible for a period of twelve months. Additionally, the regulation revised the definitions of "commercial premises" and "domestic premises" to explicitly exclude and include churches, respectively.

The court was tasked with determining whether the amendment to the regulations was lawful and within the powers conferred by the Building and Services Ordinance. The central legal issue was whether the amendment correctly interpreted and applied the legislative framework and whether it adhered to the principles of statutory interpretation.

The court found that the amendment was within the legislative powers granted under the Ordinance. It concluded that the regulation was consistent with the intent of the Ordinance, which aimed to provide a flexible charging scheme for different types of electricity consumers, including churches. The court also noted that the amendment did not contravene any statutory provisions and correctly aligned with the definitions provided in the Ordinance.

The final orders affirmed the validity of the amendment to Regulation 6A of the Canberra Electric Supply Regulations, confirming that the changes were lawful and enforceable under the Building and Services Ordinance 1924-1934.