Electricity (Amendment) Act 1998 (ACT)

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Electricity (Amendment) Act 1998

No. 51 of 1998

An Act to amend the Electricity Act 1971

[Notified in ACT Gazette S205: 16 November 1998]

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

1. Short title

   This Act may be cited as the Electricity (Amendment) Act 1998.

2. Commencement

3. Sections 1, 2 and 3 commence on the day on which this Act is notified in the Gazette.

4. The remaining provisions commence on a day fixed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.

5. If a provision referred to in subsection (2) has not commenced before the end of the period of 6 months commencing on the day on which this Act is notified in the Gazette, that provision, by force of this subsection, commences on the first day after the end of that period.

6. Principal Act

   In this Act, “Principal Act” means the Electricity Act 1971.1

7. Inspection, testing and passing of electrical installations before connection to mains

   Section 33 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “an electrical installation which has been the subject of electrical wiring work” and substituting “a new electrical installation”.

8. Insertion

   After section 33 of the Principal Act the following sections are inserted in Part IV:

“33A. Compliance with Australian Standard 3000

1. Subject to subsection (2) and to section 33C, a person shall not carry out electrical wiring work that does not comply with Australian Standard 3000 as in effect—

   (a)at the completion of the work; or

(b)if the work is not completed—when the work is carried out.

Penalty:

(a)in the case of a natural person—50 penalty units;

(b)in the case of a body corporate—250 penalty units.

1. Subsection (1) does not apply to—

   (a)electrical wiring work that consists only of—

   (i)the disconnection of an appliance or a fitting;

   (ii)the disconnection and reconnection of an appliance or a fitting where the electrical load is not increased; or

   (iii)the replacement of an appliance or a fitting where the electrical load is not increased; and

(b)any other electrical wiring work carried on in prescribed circumstances.

1. In this section—

   ‘fitting’ means a switch, lighting point or socket outlet.

“33B. Testing and reporting of electrical work

1. Subject to section 33C, a person who has carried out electrical wiring work shall—

   (a)ensure that the work—

   (i)is tested in accordance with Australian Standard 3017 as in effect at the time when the test is carried out; and

   (ii)upon testing, is found to comply with Australian Standard 3000; and

(b)within 14 days of the test—

(i)give to the Chief Executive a report of the test in a form approved by the Chief Executive; and

(ii)give to the owner of the installation in relation to which the work has been done a copy of the report.

Penalty:

(a)in the case of a natural person—5 penalty units;

(b)in the case of a body corporate—25 penalty units.

1. A person who has given a report to the Chief Executive under subparagraph (1) (b) (i) shall not fail, on written request by the Chief Executive made within 2 years after the giving of the report, to give to the Chief Executive, within 14 days of the making of the request, a copy of the report.

Penalty:

(a)in the case of a natural person—5 penalty units;

(b)in the case of a body corporate—25 penalty units.

Exemption from sections 33A and 33B“33C.

Sections 33A and 33B do not apply to—

(a)prescribed electrical wiring work; or

(b)electrical wiring work carried out in prescribed circumstances.”.

1. Entry upon land etc.

   Section 91 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting in paragraph (1) (c) “section 33A and” after “with”.

NOTES

Principal Act

1. Reprinted as at 1 June 1998.

Penalty units

See section 33AA of the Interpretation Act 1967.

[Presentation speech made in Assembly on 24 September 1998]

©  Australian Capital Territory 1998