Electricity Supply Industry (Tariff Customers) Regulations 1998
I, the Lieutenant-Governor in and over the State of Tasmania and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, make the following regulations under the Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995 .23 July 1998
W. J. E. COX
Lieutenant-Governor
By His Excellency’s Command,
T. JOHN CLEARY
Minister for Energy
PART 1Preliminary1Short titleThese regulations may be cited as the Electricity Supply Industry (Tariff Customers) Regulations 1998 . 2CommencementThese regulations take effect on 5 August 1998. 3Interpretation (1) In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears – the Act means the Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995 ; business day means a day other than – (a) a Saturday or Sunday; or (b) a day that is a public holiday throughout the State; or (c) in the application of these regulations to a particular region of the State, a day that is a public holiday in that region; electrical connection means a point to or at which a tariff customer’s electrical installation may be connected for the purpose of receiving electricity supply from a distribution network; electricity account means an account for electricity sold and supplied to a standard tariff customer; electricity retailer means an electricity entity having an exclusive right under its licence to sell and supply electricity to non-contestable customers within a particular supply area; metering equipment means equipment that measures and records the amount of electricity supplied to a tariff customer’s electrical installation; notice means notice in writing; prepayment meter means a meter that allows for electricity to be sold and supplied under an arrangement that – (a) allows the tariff customer to make full payment for the electricity before it is consumed; and (b) allows the electricity retailer to recover amounts that it is owed for that electricity by periodically debiting that meter; standard tariff customer means a tariff customer whose electricity supply is measured by means other than a prepayment meter; tariff customer means a non-contestable customer that is supplied with electricity or has made an application for electricity supply on conditions fixed by a tariff. (2) For the purposes of these regulations, a tariff customer is taken to have produced acceptable identification in relation to a matter if the tariff customer produces – (a) a birth certificate; or (b) a current driver’s licence or passport; or (c) a card issued under the Social Security Act 1991 of the Commonwealth. 4Application of regulations (1) These regulations apply to the sale and supply of electricity to tariff customers by electricity retailers. (2) These regulations do not apply to the sale or supply of electricity to particular customers under individual contracts negotiated under section 40 of the Act. PART 2Tariffs5Tariffs and amendments to tariffs to be approved by Regulator (1) After 30 September 1998, an electricity retailer must not agree to sell or supply electricity to a person under a tariff unless a draft of the tariff has been approved by the Regulator.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(2) After 30 September 1998, an electricity retailer that proposes to amend a tariff as provided by section 38(2) of the Act – (a) must submit a draft of the proposed amendment to the Regulator; and (b) must not make the amendment to the tariff until the draft has been approved by the Regulator. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(3) When a draft tariff or draft amendment to a tariff is submitted to the Regulator for approval, the Regulator may – (a) approve the draft tariff or draft amendment without modification; or (b) approve the draft tariff or draft amendment with modification; or (c) refuse to approve the draft tariff or draft amendment. (4) If the Regulator approves an electricity retailer’s draft tariff or draft amendment to a tariff, with or without modification, the electricity retailer must give immediate notice of the approval and full particulars of the tariff or amendment in at least 2 daily newspapers published and circulating generally in the State. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 80 penalty units.
6Matters to be contained in tariff (1) An electricity retailer must include in a tariff conditions in respect of the following matters: (a) the circumstances in which security for payment may be required from the tariff customer and the basis of calculation of the security; (b) the circumstances in which the security is to be returned to the tariff customer; (c) the circumstances in which the customer may be liable to interest and default charges for late payment of an electricity account and the rate or basis of calculation of those charges; (d) the circumstances in which the tariff customer is entitled to receive interest and the rate or basis of calculation of the interest; (e) the circumstances, if any, in which the tariff customer is entitled to receive a discount and the rate or basis of calculation of the discount; (f) the circumstances in which the electricity supply may be disconnected; (g) the circumstances in which disconnected electricity supply may be reconnected including, where relevant, the tariff customer’s right to have electricity supply reconnected; (h) how the quantity of electricity sold and supplied is to be estimated if the metering equipment fails to operate or fails to operate correctly. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
(2) An electricity retailer must ensure that a tariff contains provisions that explain – (a) the services that the tariff customer is entitled to receive under the tariff; and (b) the standard of customer service that the tariff customer is entitled to expect under the tariff; and (c) the procedures established by the electricity retailer for handling any inquiries or complaints that the tariff customer may make; and (d) the procedures established by the electricity retailer for resolving any disputes with the tariff customer. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
PART 3Security for payment7Electricity retailer may require security (1) Subject to this Part, an electricity retailer may agree to sell and supply electricity to a person as a standard tariff customer subject to a condition that the person provides security for the payment of electricity accounts. (2) The security may only be required for an electricity supply to premises that are used wholly or partly for business purposes if the person – (a) is a new customer with no history of paying electricity accounts; or (b) has an unsatisfactory record in relation to the payment of electricity accounts; or (c) has an unsatisfactory credit rating. (3) The security may only be required for an electricity supply to premises that are used wholly for residential purposes if the person – (a) is a new customer and has failed to produce acceptable identification; or (b) has, within the preceding 2 years, been responsible for the illegal use of electricity; or (c) has previously left premises without settling an electricity account and – (i) the account remains outstanding; and (ii) the person refuses to pay the account; or (d) has refused to enter into a payment plan or other payment option in relation to a previous electricity account, and has either or both of the following: (i) an unsatisfactory record in relation to the payment of electricity accounts; (ii) an unsatisfactory credit rating. 8Form of securityThe security may be in the form of – (a) a deposit or refundable advance if the premises that are to receive the electricity supply are used wholly for residential purposes; or (b) a deposit, refundable advance or guarantee if the premises that are to receive the electricity supply are used wholly or partly for business purposes. 9Amount of securityThe amount of the security is not to exceed – (a) if electricity accounts are to be issued quarterly, 1.5 times the retail cost of the average quarterly consumption of electricity by a standard tariff customer of the same class as the person required to provide the security; or (b) if electricity accounts are to be issued more frequently than quarterly, twice the retail cost of the average monthly consumption of electricity by a standard tariff customer of the same class as the person required to provide the security. 10Receiving and holding security (1) An electricity retailer must maintain an interest-bearing account with a bank, building society or credit union expressly for the purpose of holding security deposits and refundable advances that it receives under this Part.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 80 penalty units.
(2) An electricity retailer that receives security for the payment of electricity accounts in the form of a deposit or refundable advance must – (a) immediately give the person who provided the security a receipt for the amount of the security; and (b) pay the amount of the security into the account maintained under subregulation (1) . Penalty: Fine not exceeding 80 penalty units.
(3) The electricity retailer must not withdraw the amount of the security from the account, or any of the accrued interest, except – (a) to use or return the security in accordance with this Part; or (b) as authorised by the Regulator. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
11Use of security (1) It is a condition of electricity sale and supply that an electricity retailer may use a standard tariff customer’s security deposit or refundable advance, including accrued interest, to offset an amount owed by the customer for the electricity sale and supply in any of the following circumstances: (a) where the electricity supply has been disconnected because of the customer’s failure to pay an electricity account for the electricity supply; (b) where the customer has failed to pay a final electricity account for the electricity supply; (c) at the request of the customer where the customer has requested the disconnection of the supply or informed the electricity retailer of a change in the occupation of the premises receiving the electricity supply. (2) An electricity retailer that uses a standard tariff customer’s security deposit or refundable advance to offset an electricity account must, within 14 days of so doing, give the customer an accounting of its use of the security deposit or refundable advance and pay any balance remaining, including accrued interest, to the customer.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
12Return of securityAn electricity retailer must return a standard tariff customer’s security deposit or refundable advance to the customer, together with accrued interest, within 10 business days of any of the following events occurring: (a) the customer completes 2 years of payment of electricity accounts; (b) the basis of supply to the customer changes to prepayment metering; (c) the electricity retailer ceases to supply the customer with electricity and the customer pays any amount owed to the electricity retailer for the supply. PART 4Accounts and payment13Accounts for electricity sold and supplied (1) It is a condition of electricity sale and supply that an electricity retailer must give an electricity account to a standard tariff customer at least once in each 3 month period – (a) by post; or (b) by personal delivery; or (c) by electronic or other means agreed to by the customer and electricity retailer. (2) It is a further condition of electricity sale and supply that – (a) the due date for payment stated in an electricity account is to be – (i) at least 14 days after the account is given to the customer if the period of consumption to which the electricity account relates exceeds one month; or (ii) at least 10 days after the account is given to the customer if the period of consumption to which the electricity account relates does not exceed one month; and (b) if payment or an arrangement for payment is not made or entered into by the due date, the electricity retailer must give the customer a reminder of the account within 3 business days after that date. (3) An electricity retailer must not, except as provided in subregulations (4) and (5) , give a standard tariff customer an electricity account that contains charges unrelated to the sale and supply of electricity to that customer.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
(4) A tariff connection fee or reconnection fee may be included in an electricity account. (5) Where a standard tariff customer pays an electricity account by cheque, direct debit or credit card and the payment is dishonoured or reversed resulting in the electricity retailer incurring a fee or charge, the electricity retailer may include that fee or charge in – (a) a subsequent electricity account given to the customer; or (b) if the customer is not, because of disconnection or any other reason, to be issued with any further electricity accounts, a special account for the fee or charge. (6) An electricity retailer must waive a fee or charge of the kind referred to in subregulation (5) if the customer is able to demonstrate that the fee or charge was incurred as a result of circumstances beyond the customer’s control. 14Account adjustments: overcharges (1) In this regulation, interest means interest calculated on a basis approved by the Regulator. (2) An electricity retailer that overcharges a tariff customer for electricity sale and supply as a result of an error by the electricity retailer or inaccurate metering of consumption must, within 14 days after becoming aware of the error or inaccuracy, give the customer a notice seeking instructions on whether to refund the amount of the overcharge or credit that amount to the customer’s prepayment meter, if applicable, or the customer’s next electricity account.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
(3) An electricity retailer that is required to give a notice to a tariff customer under subregulation (2) must – (a) refund the amount of the overcharge, with interest, or credit the amount to the customer, with interest, in accordance with the customer’s instructions; or (b) if no instructions have been received from the customer before the expiration of a period of 30 days after the day on which the notice was given or required to be given, refund the amount of the overcharge to the customer, with interest, by cheque. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
15Account adjustments: undercharges caused by error (1) It is a condition of electricity sale and supply that if a tariff customer is undercharged for electricity sold and supplied as a result of an error by an electricity retailer, the electricity retailer is not entitled to recover the amount of the undercharge unless – (a) in a case where the error resulted from inaccurate metering of consumption, the error was caused by fraud or tampering with the metering equipment on the part of the customer or a person acting with the express or implied consent of the customer; or (b) in any other case, the liability arose no more than 6 months prior to the discovery of the error by the electricity retailer. (2) To recover the amount of an undercharge, the electricity retailer must – (a) claim the amount in the first electricity account given to the customer after the discovery of the undercharge, or in a special account for the undercharge; and (b) if claiming by an electricity account, separately itemise the amount in that account; and (c) except in a case to which subregulation (1)(a) applies, include in the electricity account or special account a full explanation as to how the undercharge arose; and (d) include in the electricity account or special account a full explanation as to how the amount of the undercharge has been calculated; and (e) except in a case to which subregulation (1)(a) applies, allow the customer at least 30 days from the date of the account in which to pay the amount. (3) The electricity retailer is not entitled to claim interest on the amount of the undercharge except in a case to which subregulation (1)(a) applies. (4) Any interest claimed is to be calculated on a basis approved by the Regulator. 16Recovery of undercharges caused by illegal useIt is a condition of electricity sale and supply that an electricity retailer that lawfully disconnects electricity supply to a tariff customer that has been undercharged as a result of illegal use of electricity by the customer may, notwithstanding the disconnection – (a) estimate, in accordance with the tariff under which the electricity supply was provided, the electricity usage that the customer has not paid for; and (b) recover the amount that would have been payable for that electricity usage under that tariff, together with interest calculated on a basis approved by the Regulator. 17Interest on overdue accounts (1) It is a condition of electricity sale and supply that, on a basis approved by the Regulator, an electricity retailer may – (a) impose charges for late payment by a tariff customer if the amount due to the electricity retailer for electricity sold and supplied is not paid by the due date for payment fixed in the relevant electricity account; and (b) charge the tariff customer interest on that amount from the due date until the date of payment. (2) Subregulation (1) does not apply if – (a) the electricity retailer and the customer have entered into a payment plan under regulation 19 in respect of the amount due; and (b) the amount due relates to electricity sale and supply to premises that are used wholly for residential purposes. 18Payment discountsIt is a condition of electricity sale and supply that an electricity retailer may, on a basis approved by the Regulator, provide discounts on electricity accounts. 19Payment difficulties and payment plans (1) An electricity retailer that is informed by a tariff customer that the customer is experiencing difficulty in paying an electricity account must – (a) offer the customer information about independent financial counselling services; and (b) except in a case to which subregulation (2) applies, offer the customer an opportunity to pay the amount of the liability in accordance with a payment plan agreed to by the electricity retailer and the customer. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
(2) The electricity retailer is not required to comply with subregulation (1)(b) if, within the 12 month period preceding the receipt of the customer’s information, the customer twice entered into payment plans but failed to comply with the terms of those plans without demonstrating any mitigating circumstances in relation to those failures. (3) In formulating the payment plan, the electricity retailer must have regard to any information that is provided to it concerning – (a) the customer’s ability to pay; and (b) the customer’s patterns of electricity consumption. (4) If the payment plan requires the payment of instalments for a period exceeding 3 months it must – (a) provide for the customer’s electricity consumption to be monitored; and (b) contain an option that allows the parties, by agreement, to adjust the instalments payable under the plan to take account of accruing liabilities for electricity consumption. (5) The payment plan – (a) is taken to have been accepted by the customer and come into force when the customer makes the first payment under the terms of the plan; and (b) is not, once in force, capable of being amended to increase the amount or frequency of payments except with the customer’s written consent or in accordance with the option referred to in subregulation (4)(b) . 20Recovery of unpaid accountsIt is a condition of electricity sale and supply that, subject to these regulations, an electricity retailer may recover in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the electricity retailer – (a) an amount that remains outstanding after disconnection of a tariff customer’s electricity supply for failure to pay an electricity account; and (b) an amount estimated in accordance with regulation 16 for any illegal use of supply; and (c) any fee or charge of the kind referred to in regulation 13(5) that it may incur in respect of a tariff customer; and (d) any connection or reconnection fee; and (e) any interest or charges of the kind referred to in regulation 17 that it may charge or impose in respect of a tariff customer. 21Suspension of liability under disputed accounts (1) It is a condition of electricity sale and supply that if an electricity retailer and a tariff customer dispute the amount of an electricity account but they agree to resolve the dispute by a process of arbitration, mediation or negotiation, the tariff customer has no liability under the account for the disputed amount, if at all, until the completion of that dispute resolution process. (2) It is a further condition of electricity sale and supply that if an electricity retailer and a tariff customer dispute the amount of an electricity account and the customer makes a complaint under the Electricity Ombudsman Act 1998 in respect of the account before the due date for its payment, the tariff customer has no liability under the account for the disputed amount, if at all, until – (a) the complaint is dismissed by the Ombudsman; or (b) the Ombudsman completes the investigation of the complaint; or (c) if the complaint is referred to a person under section 10(1)(b) of that Act, that person makes a determination. PART 5Disconnection of supply22Disconnection of supply for reasons other than non-payment (1) It is a condition of electricity sale and supply that, in addition to any circumstances provided for in the Act, an electricity retailer may disconnect the electricity supply to a tariff customer’s premises in accordance with this regulation if – (a) the disconnection is necessary in order to maintain or upgrade electrical infrastructure used for the supply; or (b) an employee or agent of the electricity retailer has been unable to gain access to the metering equipment on the premises on 3 successive occasions at reasonable times; or (c) the electricity retailer suspects on reasonable grounds that the customer has committed an offence relating to electrical safety or the illegal use of electricity; or (d) the electricity retailer is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the customer has engaged in conduct that has interfered with the sale or supply of electricity to other customers or jeopardised the safety of the distribution network; or (e) the disconnection is necessary in order to respond to an emergency or ensure public safety; or (f) the customer has requested or given prior agreement to the disconnection. (2) Before an electricity retailer disconnects electricity supply to a tariff customer’s premises under subregulation (1) it must – (a) in a case to which paragraph (a) of that subregulation applies – (i) give the customer personal notice of its intention to disconnect the supply at least 4 business days before the date of disconnection; or (ii) cause a general notice to tariff customers to be published in a daily newspaper circulating in the region of the State in which the customer’s premises are located, at least 5 business days before the date of disconnection; and (b) in a case to which paragraph (b) , (c) or (d) of that subregulation applies, give the customer personal notice of its intention to disconnect the supply at least 5 business days before the date of disconnection. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(3) An electricity retailer is not required to give notice of the disconnection of supply in a case to which subregulation (1)(e) or (f) applies. 23Requirements to be complied with before disconnecting supply for non-payment (1) Before an electricity retailer exercises its power under section 42(1) of the Act to disconnect a tariff customer’s electricity supply, it must give the customer notice in a form approved by the Regulator of its intention to disconnect the supply.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(2) An electricity retailer that has complied with subregulation (1) must not proceed with the disconnection if, within 5 business days after the date on which the notice is given to the customer, the customer – (a) pays the account; or (b) enters into a payment plan under regulation 19 or makes some other arrangement with the electricity retailer to pay the account. 24Supply not to be disconnected at restricted time (1) An electricity retailer must not disconnect a tariff customer’s electricity supply at a restricted time unless – (a) the disconnection is necessary in order to respond to an emergency or ensure public safety; or (b) the disconnection is necessary in order to maintain or upgrade electrical infrastructure used for the supply and the electricity retailer has given reasonable warning of the disconnection – (i) by personal notice given to the customer at least 4 business days before the date of disconnection; or (ii) by a general notice to tariff customers, published in a daily newspaper circulating in the region of the State in which the customer’s premises are located, at least 5 business days before the date of disconnection; or (c) the customer has requested or given prior agreement to the disconnection. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1) , a restricted time is – (a) any time after 2 p.m. on a business day; or (b) any time on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or public holiday; or (c) any time on a day immediately preceding a public holiday. 25Reconnection of supply (1) An electricity retailer that disconnects a standard tariff customer’s electricity supply for non-payment of an electricity account must reconnect the electricity supply as soon as practicable if , in addition to the circumstances specified in section 42(3) of the Act, the customer enters into a payment plan under regulation 19 or makes some other arrangement with the electricity retailer to pay the amount of the liability and any reconnection fee.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(2) It is a condition of electricity sale and supply that if a standard tariff customer becomes entitled to the reconnection of electricity supply before 4 p.m. on a business day, the reconnection must be made on – (a) if practicable, the same day; or (b) if it is not practicable to reconnect the supply on the same day, the next business day. (3) An electricity retailer that disconnects a standard tariff customer’s electricity supply on the basis of a default by the customer under regulation 22(1)(b) , (c) or (d) must reconnect the supply as soon as practicable after the tariff customer remedies the default.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
PART 6Rights and obligations of customers26Customers entitled to copy of tariff on requestAn electricity retailer must, within 10 days of being requested to do so by a tariff customer, give the customer a free copy of the tariff under which electricity is sold and supplied to that customer.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 40 penalty units.
27Provision and protection of information on customers (1) An electricity retailer must, within 10 days of being requested to do so by a tariff customer, provide the customer with particulars of any personal information that the retailer holds in relation to that customer.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
(2) An electricity retailer may charge a tariff customer a fee to recover the reasonable cost of providing particulars in relation to electricity accounts under subregulation (1) but any other particulars are to be provided free of charge. (3) An electricity retailer must not disclose any personal, financial or commercial information that it holds in relation to a tariff customer to any person other than the customer except – (a) as required by law; or (b) as authorised in writing by the tariff customer. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
28Provision of special services for customers (1) An electricity retailer must provide a teletype telephone service for its tariff customers.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 40 penalty units.
(2) An electricity retailer must, at the request of a tariff customer, provide a tariff customer with access to a telephone interpreter service.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 40 penalty units.
(3) An electricity retailer must, at the request of a tariff customer, provide the customer with a large-print version of the tariff under which electricity is sold and supplied to that customer.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 40 penalty units.
(4) For the purposes of subregulation (3) , "large-print" means print in type that is at least 16 point in size. 29Obligations of tariff customers (1) A tariff customer who receives electricity supply in respect of any premises – (a) must keep the electricity retailer informed of an address at which the customer can be contacted personally or by post; and (b) must immediately inform the electricity retailer of any change of use or other circumstances that may affect the tariff applicable to the premises; and (c) must ensure that the electricity retailer has safe and unhindered access to the metering equipment on the premises; and (d) must immediately inform the electricity retailer of any change of circumstances that may affect access to the metering equipment on the premises; and (e) must inform the electricity retailer, at least 2 business days in advance, of any proposed change in the occupation of the premises; and (f) must not modify or alter the electricity retailer’s metering data; and (g) must not wilfully damage or tamper with the metering equipment on the premises; and (h) must immediately inform the electricity retailer of any damage to, or of any circumstances which might lead to damage to, the metering equipment on the premises; and (i) must inform the electricity retailer within 5 business days after breaking, or discovering any breakage in, the seal protecting the metering equipment on the premises. (2) Each obligation of the tariff customer referred to in subregulation (1) may be enforced by the electricity retailer in the same manner as if the obligation were a condition of the tariff under which electricity is sold and supplied to that customer. PART 7Miscellaneous30Persons dependent on lifesupport machines (1) If an electricity retailer that is selling and supplying electricity to premises under a tariff accepts, after being given notice by the tariff customer, that a person at those premises is dependent on a lifesupport machine, that supply is taken to be a prescribed service under section 42(1A) of the Act. (2) In a case to which subregulation (1) applies, the electricity retailer must – (a) give the customer and the Regulator notice of its acceptance and the date of the acceptance; and (b) keep a record and particulars of the notice; and (c) keep a record of the address and, if applicable, telephone number of the premises; and (d) advise the customer on a plan of action in the event of an unplanned interruption of supply; and (e) provide the customer with a telephone number at which the electricity retailer can be contacted in an emergency; and (f) give the customer immediate notice if the telephone number referred to in paragraph (e) is changed; and (g) give the customer at least 4 business days’ notice of any planned interruption to the electricity supply to the premises that has not been agreed to in advance by the customer. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(3) For the purpose of determining whether or not to accept a notice under subregulation (1) , an electricity retailer may require the customer to provide either or both of the following: (a) further particulars of the lifesupport machine or other relevant matters; (b) reasonable evidence in support of the notice. (4) A tariff customer that is given a notice of acceptance by an electricity retailer under subregulation (2)(a) in relation to a person on any premises must inform the electricity retailer within 30 days if that person ceases – (a) to occupy those premises; or (b) to be dependent on a lifesupport machine. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 2.5 penalty units.
(5) A tariff customer must not give a false notice or false information to an electricity retailer under this regulation.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
(6) For the purposes of this regulation, a machine is taken to be a lifesupport machine if – (a) the Regulator has determined that it is a lifesupport machine; or (b) it is a machine of a kind or class that the Regulator has determined to be a kind or class of lifesupport machine. 31Time for providing electrical connection (1) It is a condition of electricity sale and supply that an electricity retailer must provide a tariff customer with an electrical connection – (a) if it has made an agreement with the customer to provide the connection on a particular day, on that day; or (b) if it has not made an agreement with the customer to provide the connection on a particular day, within the relevant period after the customer pays the relevant fees, charges or other amounts. (2) For the purposes of subregulation (1) , the relevant period is – (a) where the customer’s premises have previously been connected to the distribution network – (i) one business day if the reconnection does not involve any changes to the distribution network; and (ii) 10 business days if the reconnection involves changes to the distribution network; and (b) where the customer’s premises have not previously been connected to the distribution network – (i) 10 business days if no extension of the distribution network is required; and (ii) 40 business days if an extension of the distribution network is required. Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.
Notified in the Gazette on 29 July 1998
These regulations are administered in the Office of Energy Planning and Conservation.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the regulation) These regulations set out certain conditions relating to the sale and supply of electricity to tariff customers.