Electricity Industry Act 2004

Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2005

 

Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2005

Contents

Part 1 — Preliminary

1.Citation1

2.Commencement1

3.Terms used in these regulations1

4.Parts 2 and 4 not to apply to certain contracts2

Part 2 — General requirements for customer contracts

5.Format and expression3

6.Duration of contract3

7.Details of retailer3

8.Description of goods and services3

9.Customer’s obligation to pay for electricity3

10.Interference with network equipment4

11.Disconnection and reconnection4

12.Benefit changes4

13.Prices5

14.Billing5

15.Termination5

16.Amendment of contract7

17.Assignment7

18.Complaints7

19.Confidentiality8

20.Miscellaneous provisions8

21.No contracting out of code of conduct8

Part 3 — Requirements for standard form contracts

Division 1 — Requirements for all standard form contracts

22.Acceptable identification9

23.Termination of contract by customer10

24.Equipment ownership and responsibility10

25.Meter testing10

26.Access to supply premises10

27.Customer entering supply premises — existing connection11

28.Customer leaving supply premises11

29.Matters beyond the control of customer or retailer11

31.Payment difficulties and debt recovery12

Division 2 — Security deposit requirements for certain standard form contracts

31A.Term used: customer12

31B.Security deposits not payable by residential customers12

31C.Security deposits may be required from certain customers12

31D.Amount of security deposit14

31E.Treatment of security deposit14

31F.Use of security deposit15

31G.Obligation to repay security deposit16

31H.Failure to pay security deposit16

31I.Permission for retailer to carry out credit checks17

Part 4 — Requirements for non‑standard contracts

Division 1 — Requirements for all non‑standard contracts

32A.Term used: fixed term contract18

32.Cooling‑off period for non‑standard contracts18

33.Termination of contract by customer19

34.Amendment of contract19

34A.Information relating to expiry of fixed term contract19

Division 2 — Security deposit requirements for certain non‑standard contracts

34B.Security deposits not payable by residential customers20

34C.Security deposits may be required from certain customers21

Part 5 — Deemed contracts with default supplier

35.Meaning of terms used in this Part22

36.Determination of default supplier22

37.Supply under deemed contract with default supplier22

38.Default supplier to notify customer23

Part 6 — Miscellaneous

39.Exception for section 54(1)24

40.Requirement to offer to supply electricity under standard form contract24

Notes

Compilation table26

Defined terms

 

Electricity Industry Act 2004

Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2005

Part 1 — Preliminary

1.Citation

These regulations are the Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2005.

2.Commencement

These regulations come into operation on 1 January 2006.

3.Terms used in these regulations

In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears —

business day means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday;

code of conduct has the meaning given to that term in section 78;

customer has the meaning given to that term in section 47;

customer contract means a standard form contract or a non‑standard contract;

distributor, in relation to a customer, means the person holding —

(a)a distribution licence; or

(b)an integrated regional licence,

for the distribution system through which electricity is supplied to the customer;

meter means equipment used to measure the quantity of electricity supplied to a customer;

network equipment means the meter and any wires, apparatus or other equipment used for or in connection with the supply of electricity and located upstream from the meter;

non‑standard contract has the meaning given to that term in section 47;

price includes charge, fee and tariff;

provision of a customer contract means a provision, term or condition of a customer contract;

residential customer means a customer to whom electricity is supplied for residential purposes;

retailer, in relation to a customer, means the retail licensee selling, or intending to sell, electricity to the customer;

retail licensee has the meaning given to that term in section 47;

section means a section of the Act;

security deposit means an amount of money provided as security against the customer defaulting on a payment due to the retailer under a customer contract;

standard form contract has the meaning given to that term in section 47;

supply means the supply of electricity to a customer;

supply premises means the premises to which electricity is, or will be, supplied under a customer contract.

[Regulation 3 amended: Gazette 31 Mar 2006 p. 1344; 27 Dec 2013 p. 6474; SL 2022/103 r. 4.]

4.Parts 2 and 4 not to apply to certain contracts

Parts 2 and 4 do not apply to a non‑standard contract entered into before 31 March 2006.

Part 2 — General requirements for customer contracts

5.Format and expression

(1)A customer contract must be in a format that makes it easy to read.

(2)A customer contract must be expressed in clear, simple and concise language.

6.Duration of contract

A customer contract must specify the day on which the contract comes into effect and the period for which it has effect.

7.Details of retailer

A customer contract must specify the retailer’s —

(a)company name and business name (if different from its company name);

(b)Australian Business Number or Australian Company Number;

(c)registered office address and business address (if different from its registered office address);

(d)postal address;

(e)telephone number;

(f)email address; and

(g)internet website address.

8.Description of goods and services

A customer contract must give an exact description of the goods and services that the retailer will provide under the contract.

9.Customer’s obligation to pay for electricity

A customer contract must require the customer to pay for electricity supplied under the contract.

10.Interference with network equipment

A customer contract must prohibit the customer from tampering with or bypassing network equipment or allowing any other person to do so.

11.Disconnection and reconnection

A customer contract must describe the circumstances in which —

(a)the retailer has a right to disconnect supply; and

(b)the retailer is required to reconnect supply.

12.Benefit changes

(1)In this regulation —

benefit change means a change to, or the expiry of, a benefit (such as a price discount) provided under a customer contract to the customer during a period that ends earlier than the date on which the contract will end.

(2)If a customer contract provides for a benefit change, the contract must —

(a)state that the retailer is required to inform the customer, not more than 40 business days and not less than 20 business days before the date of the benefit change, of —

(i)the benefit change; and

(ii)the options for supply available to the customer after the date of the benefit change;

and

(b)describe the way in which the retailer must give that information to the customer.

[Regulation 12 inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 5.]

13.Prices

(1)A customer contract must describe the prices payable by the customer under the contract and the circumstances in which those prices are payable.

(2)A customer contract must describe the way in which the retailer —

(a)publishes its prices; and

(b)gives notice of variations to its prices.

[Regulation 13 amended: SL 2022/103 r. 6.]

14.Billing

A customer contract must describe the procedures to be followed by the retailer in relation to the preparation, issue and review of the customer’s bills.

15.Termination

(1)A customer contract must —

(a)deal with the circumstances in which the contract may be terminated by the retailer or the customer;

(b)deal with the procedures for and in relation to termination of the contract;

(c)without limiting regulation 13(1), describe any fees, charges or penalties payable by the customer if the contract is terminated and the circumstances in which they are payable; and

(d)deal with when termination of the contract takes effect.

(2)Without limiting subregulation (1), a customer contract must authorise the retailer to terminate the contract if the customer —

(a)becomes insolvent; or

(b)goes into liquidation; or

(c)becomes bankrupt; or

(ca)consumes more than 160 MWh of electricity in any period of 12 months; or

(d)commits a breach of the contract for which the retailer has a right, under the contract or a written law, to disconnect supply.

(3)Without limiting subregulation (1), a customer contract must include provisions that state that if the contract is terminated —

(a)the retailer may arrange for a final meter reading and for disconnection;

(b)the retailer may issue a final bill to the customer;

(c)the retailer may, subject to the provisions of any written law, charge the customer a fee for the final meter reading, disconnection and final bill;

(d)the retailer or distributor may remove any network equipment at any time after the day on which the contract ends; and

(e)the customer must allow the retailer or distributor safe and unrestricted access to the supply premises for the purpose of removing network equipment.

(4)If a customer contract (the first contract) provides for termination of the contract in circumstances where the customer has entered into another customer contract with the retailer, the first contract must not provide for the termination to take effect before the cooling‑off period (if any) for the other customer contract expires.

[(5)deleted]

(6)If a customer contract (the first contract) provides for termination of the contract in circumstances where the customer has entered into a customer contract with another retailer, the first contract must not provide for the termination to take effect before the customer is transferred to the other retailer in accordance with the Electricity Industry Customer Transfer Code 2004.

[Regulation 15 amended: Gazette 20 Sep 2016 p. 3966; SL 2022/103 r. 7.]

16.Amendment of contract

(1)A standard form contract must inform the customer that the provisions of the contract may be amended without the customer’s consent.

(1A)A non‑standard contract must inform the customer that the provisions of the contract may be amended without the customer’s consent to the extent that the amendment is required for the contract to remain consistent with a written law.

(2)A customer contract must describe the process for amendment of the contract including —

(a)any requirement for approval of a proposed amendment by a particular person or body; and

(b)the way in which an amendment will be published.

[Regulation 16 amended: SL 2022/103 r. 8.]

17.Assignment

(1)A customer contract must deal with the assignment of rights and obligations under the contract by the customer and the retailer.

(2)Without limiting subregulation (1), a customer contract must set out the circumstances in which the customer’s rights and obligations under the contract may be assigned without the customer’s consent.

18.Complaints

A customer contract must describe the procedures to be followed by the retailer in responding to a complaint made by the customer.

19.Confidentiality

(1)A customer contract must specify the steps that are to be taken by the retailer to ensure that information held by the retailer about the customer is dealt with in a confidential manner.

(2)A customer contract complies with subregulation (1) if the contract specifies —

(a)that the retailer has a privacy policy that sets out the steps that are to be taken by the retailer to ensure that information held by the retailer about the customer is dealt with in a confidential manner; and

(b)the way in which the customer may obtain a copy of the retailer’s privacy policy without charge.

[Regulation 19 amended: SL 2022/103 r. 9.]

20.Miscellaneous provisions

A customer contract must deal with the following matters —

(a)the law that governs the contract;

(b)the effect of any invalid or unenforceable provision on the other provisions of the contract;

(c)the way in which notice can be given under the contract and when such notice is deemed to be given;

(d)the use of electronic communication by the retailer when dealing with the customer.

21.No contracting out of code of conduct

(1)A customer contract must not include a provision that purports to exclude, restrict or modify the effect of the code of conduct unless the exclusion, restriction or modification is expressly authorised by the code of conduct.

(2)A provision which contravenes subregulation (1) is of no effect.

Part 3 — Requirements for standard form contracts

Division 1 — Requirements for all standard form contracts

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 10.]

22.Acceptable identification

(1)In this regulation —

acceptable identification, in relation to —

(a)a customer who is an individual — means any of the following —

(i)a driver’s licence, a current passport or another form of photographic evidence;

(ii)a pensioner concession card or other entitlement card issued by or on behalf of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory;

(iii)a birth certificate;

or

(b)a customer that is a sole trader or a partnership comprising individuals — means any of the forms of identification in paragraph (a) for at least 1 of the individuals who conduct the business or enterprise concerned; or

(c)a customer that is a body corporate or a partnership comprising bodies corporate — means the Australian Company Number or Australian Business Number of each body corporate that conducts the business or enterprise concerned; or

(d)a customer that is a partnership comprising 1 or more individuals and 1 or more bodies corporate means —

(i)any of the forms of identification in paragraph (a) for at least 1 of the individuals who conduct the business or enterprise concerned; and

(ii)the Australian Company Number or Australian Business Number of each body corporate that conducts the business or enterprise concerned.

(2)A retailer may require the customer to provide acceptable identification as a precondition to entering into a standard form contract with the customer.

[Regulation 22 inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 11.]

23.Termination of contract by customer

Without limiting regulation 15(1), a standard form contract must authorise the customer to terminate the contract at any time by giving notice to the retailer not less than 5 days before the day on which the customer wants the contract to end.

24.Equipment ownership and responsibility

A standard form contract must deal with ownership of, responsibility for, and rights and obligations in relation to, equipment used for or in connection with supply under the contract.

25.Meter testing

A standard form contract must inform the customer —

(a)that the customer can ask the retailer to arrange for the meter to be tested; and

(b)of the circumstances in which the customer is required to pay a fee for the test.

26.Access to supply premises

(1)A standard form contract must require the customer to provide safe and unrestricted access to network equipment at the supply premises.

(2)A standard form contract must require the retailer to take reasonable steps to ensure that any person who enters the supply premises on behalf of the retailer —

(a)clearly displays a form of identification; and

(b)shows a form of identification to the customer if requested to do so.

(3)In subregulation (2) —

form of identification means a card or other written material that identifies the person as an employee or agent of the retailer.

27.Customer entering supply premises — existing connection

A standard form contract must, in relation to an existing electricity connection, specify the method used to determine the quantity of electricity supplied to the customer at the supply premises if a final meter reading was not carried out on the day that the previous customer left the supply premises.

28.Customer leaving supply premises

A standard form contract must include provisions that deal with the following matters —

(a)a requirement for notice to be given by the customer to the retailer before the customer leaves the supply premises;

(b)the method used to determine the final charge payable by the customer for electricity supplied at the supply premises and any fee payable by the customer in respect of that determination;

(c)the nature and extent of the customer’s obligation to pay for electricity supplied at the supply premises.

29.Matters beyond the control of customer or retailer

A standard form contract must deal with the rights and obligations of the customer and the retailer if something happens that is beyond the control of the customer or the retailer.

[30.Deleted: SL 2022/103 r. 12.]

31.Payment difficulties and debt recovery

(1)A standard form contract must deal with the rights and obligations of the customer and the retailer in circumstances where the customer has difficulty paying a bill.

(2)A standard form contract must deal with the rights and obligations of the customer and the retailer in relation to debt collection.

Division 2 — Security deposit requirements for certain standard form contracts

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31A.Term used: customer

In this Division —

customer does not include a residential customer.

[Regulation 31A inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31B.Security deposits not payable by residential customers

A standard form contract entered into by a residential customer must not state that the residential customer is required to pay a security deposit to the retailer.

[Regulation 31B inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31C.Security deposits may be required from certain customers

(1)In this regulation —

electricity ombudsman has the meaning given in section 92(1);

electricity ombudsman scheme means the scheme approved by the Authority under section 92.

(2)A standard form contract must state whether or not the customer is required to pay a security deposit to the retailer.

(3)Subject to subregulations (4) and (6), a standard form contract may state that a customer is required to pay a security deposit to the retailer —

(a)at the time the customer asks the retailer to supply electricity to the customer under a standard form contract; and

(b)at any time during the term of the standard form contract.

(4)A standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state that the customer is required to do so only if —

(a)the customer owes an amount to the retailer in relation to supply at any premises, unless the customer has disputed the bill relating to that amount and the bill is subject to —

(i)a review by the retailer; or

(ii)a complaint to the electricity ombudsman;

or

(b)within 2 years before entering into the contract, the customer has —

(i)fraudulently obtained supply; or

(ii)consumed electricity intentionally and unlawfully;

or

(c)the retailer reasonably decides that the customer has an unsatisfactory credit history or an unsatisfactory history relating to paying for electricity supplied to the customer.

(5)Subregulation (6) applies to a standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit because of the retailer’s decision referred to in subregulation (4)(c).

(6)The standard form contract must state that the retailer is required to inform the customer of —

(a)the retailer’s decision that the customer has an unsatisfactory credit history or an unsatisfactory history relating to paying for electricity supplied to the customer, and the reasons for that decision; and

(b)the retailer’s complaints handling procedures and the electricity ombudsman scheme.

[Regulation 31C inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31D.Amount of security deposit

A standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state that the retailer is required to ensure that the amount of the security deposit is not greater than 37.5% of the customer’s estimated bills over a 12 month period, based on —

(a)billing data relating to the customer; or

(b)the average consumption of electricity by a comparable customer over a comparable 12 month period.

[Regulation 31D inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31E.Treatment of security deposit

(1)In this regulation —

bank bill swap rate means —

(a)the Australian Stock Exchange Bank Bill Swap Rate (BBSW) having a term equal to or nearest to 90 days, as published on the first day of the relevant 90 day period referred to in subregulation (3); or

(b)if the rate referred to in paragraph (a) is not published on that day — the rate published on the most recent day before that day.

(2)A standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state that the retailer is required —

(a)to keep security deposits paid to the retailer in a separate trust account; and

(b)to identify those security deposits separately in the retailer’s accounting records.

(3)A standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state that the retailer is required to pay interest to the customer on the security deposit, at the bank bill swap rate, that accrues daily and is capitalised every 90 days unless paid.

[Regulation 31E inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31F.Use of security deposit

(1)In this regulation —

security deposit includes any interest accrued on the security deposit, as described in regulation 31E(3).

(2)A standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state that the retailer may apply the security deposit in full or partial satisfaction of amounts owed by the customer to the retailer only if —

(a)the retailer disconnects supply for non‑payment of a bill and the customer no longer has any right to reconnection under the standard form contract; or

(b)any amount owed by the customer relates to a final bill issued to the customer.

(3)A standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state that the retailer, within 10 business days after applying the security deposit as described in subregulation (2), is required —

(a)to provide the customer with a written statement of how the security deposit was applied; and

(b)to repay to the customer any amount of the security deposit that was not applied.

[Regulation 31F inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31G.Obligation to repay security deposit

(1)A standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state that the retailer is required to repay to the customer, in accordance with the customer’s reasonable instructions and subject to the contract’s provisions described in regulation 31F, the amount of the security deposit, including any interest accrued as described in regulation 31E(3), within the period described in subregulation (2).

(2)The standard form contract must state that the security deposit is required to be repaid within 10 business days after —

(a)the customer completes 2 years of payments for supply by the date specified in the relevant bills; or

(b)the customer leaves the supply premises; or

(c)the retailer disconnects supply at the supply premises at the request of the customer; or

(d)the customer transfers to another retailer.

(3)The standard form contract must state that, if the customer does not give reasonable instructions for the repayment of the security deposit and any accrued interest, the retailer is required to credit the amount to be repaid —

(a)if subregulation (2)(a) applies to the repayment — to the customer’s next bill; or

(b)if subregulation (2)(b), (c) or (d) applies to the repayment — to the customer’s final bill.

[Regulation 31G inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31H.Failure to pay security deposit

A standard form contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state that, if the customer fails to pay the security deposit, in whole or in part, the retailer may, subject to the conditions of its trading licence and the requirements of the contract referred to in regulation 11 —

(a)disconnect supply or cause disconnection to occur; or

(b)refuse to reconnect supply.

[Regulation 31H inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

31I.Permission for retailer to carry out credit checks

(1)This regulation applies if a standard form contract states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit during the term of the standard form contract.

(2)The standard form contract must state that the customer is required to provide the retailer, if and when requested by the retailer to do so, with —

(a)permission to investigate the customer’s credit history; and

(b)any information held by the customer about the customer’s credit history.

[Regulation 31I inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 13.]

Part 4 — Requirements for non‑standard contracts

Division 1 — Requirements for all non‑standard contracts

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 14.]

32A.Term used: fixed term contract

In this Division —

fixed term contract means a non‑standard contract that is expressed to have effect for a definite period.

[Regulation 32A inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 15.]

32.Cooling‑off period for non‑standard contracts

(1)In this regulation —

cooling‑off period means the period referred to in subregulation (2).

(2)A customer has a right, at his or her discretion, to terminate a non‑standard contract within the period of 10 business days after the contract is entered into and this right must be specified in the contract.

(3)A non‑standard contract must prohibit the retailer from supplying electricity to the customer under the contract during the cooling‑off period unless the customer requests supply.

(4)A non‑standard contract must require the customer to pay the retailer for electricity supplied and for any services provided in connection with that supply if —

(a)at the request of the customer, electricity is supplied to the customer during the cooling‑off period; and

(b)the customer exercises his or her right to terminate the contract during that period.

[Regulation 32 amended: SL 2022/103 r. 16.]

33.Termination of contract by customer

[(1)deleted]

(2)Without limiting regulation 15(1), a non‑standard contract (other than a fixed term contract) must authorise the customer to terminate the contract at any time by giving notice to the retailer not less than 5 days before the day on which the customer wants the contract to end.

(3)A fixed term contract must authorise the customer to terminate the contract at any time by giving notice to the retailer not less than 20 days before the day on which the customer wants the contract to end.

(4)A fixed term contract must specify any amount payable by the customer, by way of penalty, in the event that the customer terminates the contract before the expiry of the term of the contract.

[Regulation 33 amended: SL 2022/103 r. 17.]

34.Amendment of contract

Without limiting regulation 16, a non‑standard contract must require the retailer to notify the customer of any amendment to the contract.

34A.Information relating to expiry of fixed term contract

(1)A fixed term contract must state that the retailer is required to notify the customer —

(a)of the day on which the contract is due to expire; and

(b)of the options for supply available to the customer after expiry; and

(c)of the terms and conditions that will apply after expiry unless the customer exercises 1 of the options referred to in paragraph (b); and

(d)of the way in which the retailer must give the notification referred to in this subregulation to the customer.

(2)Subject to subregulation (3), the fixed term contract must state that the notification referred to in subregulation (1) is required to be given not more than 40 business days and not less than 20 business days before the day on which the contract is due to expire.

(3)If the term of the fixed term contract is less than 1 month, the contract must state that the notification referred to in subregulation (1) is required to be given at the commencement of the term.

(4)The fixed term contract (the current contract) must state that the retailer is not required to give the notification referred to in subregulation (1) if the customer —

(a)has already entered into a new fixed term contract with the retailer for the supply premises to which the current contract applies; or

(b)has informed the retailer as to which of the options for supply referred to in subregulation (1)(b) the customer requires on the expiry of the current contract.

[Regulation 34A inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 18.]

Division 2 — Security deposit requirements for certain non‑standard contracts

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 19.]

34B.Security deposits not payable by residential customers

A non-standard contract entered into by a residential customer must not state that the residential customer is required to pay a security deposit to the retailer.

[Regulation 34B inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 19.]

34C.Security deposits may be required from certain customers

(1)In this regulation —

customer does not include a residential customer.

(2)A non‑standard contract must state whether or not the customer is required to pay a security deposit to the retailer.

(3)A non‑standard contract that states that a customer is required to pay a security deposit must state —

(a)the method used to calculate the amount of any security deposit; and

(b)the maximum amount that the retailer may require the customer to pay as a security deposit; and

(c)the circumstances in which the retailer may apply the security deposit in satisfaction of amounts owed by the customer to the retailer; and

(d)the circumstances in which the retailer must repay the security deposit to the customer.

(4)For the purposes of this regulation, regulations 31C(1), (3), (4), (5) and (6), 31E, 31H and 31I apply as if any reference in those provisions to a standard form contract included a reference to a non‑standard contract.

[Regulation 34C inserted: SL 2022/103 r. 19.]

Part 5 — Deemed contracts with default supplier

35.Meaning of terms used in this Part

In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears —

connection point means the point at which premises owned or occupied by a customer are connected to a distribution system;

default supplier for a connection point means the default supplier determined for the connection point under regulation 36(1);

distributor means a person holding —

(a)a distribution licence; or

(b)an integrated regional licence authorising the operation of a distribution system.

36.Determination of default supplier

(1)A distributor is required to determine from time to time the default supplier for each connection point that connects to a distribution system operated by the distributor.

(2)A determination under subregulation (1) must be made in such a way that the default supplier for each connection point is the retail licensee identified by the distributor as supplying electricity at the connection point.

(3)It is a condition of a distributor’s distribution licence or integrated regional licence that the distributor must comply with the obligation in subregulation (1).

37.Supply under deemed contract with default supplier

If a customer commences to take a supply of electricity at premises without entering into a contract for the supply with a retail licensee, the electricity is deemed to be supplied under the standard form contract of the default supplier for the connection point in respect of those premises.

38.Default supplier to notify customer

(1)Within 5 days after becoming aware of a customer taking a supply of electricity at premises in the circumstances referred to in regulation 37, the default supplier for the connection point in respect of those premises is required to notify the customer in writing —

(a)that the default supplier is the default supplier for that connection point; and

(b)of the effect of regulation 37.

(2)It is a condition of a default supplier’s retail licence or integrated regional licence that the default supplier must comply with the obligation in subregulation (1).

Part 6 — Miscellaneous

39.Exception for section 54(1)

The licence condition provided for in section 54(1) is subject to the exception that a licensee may supply electricity to customers under a non‑standard contract that does not comply with the Act if the contract is entered into before 31 March 2006.

40.Requirement to offer to supply electricity under standard form contract

(1)In this regulation —

default supplier has the meaning given in regulation 35;

relevant corporation means the Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation or the Regional Power Corporation.

(1A)Subject to this regulation, a retailer is required to offer to supply electricity under a standard form contract to a customer who requests supply.

(1B)If the customer requests supply in relation to an existing electricity connection, the obligation in subregulation (1A) arises only in respect of the default supplier.

(1C)If the customer requests supply otherwise than in relation to an existing electricity connection, the obligation in subregulation (1A) arises only in respect of a relevant corporation.

(2)The obligation in subregulation (1A) does not arise if —

(a)the premises of the customer requesting supply are not connected to a distribution system; and

(b)there is no obligation under the Electricity Industry (Obligation to Connect) Regulations 2005 regulation 4 for a distributor to attach or connect those premises to a distribution system.

(3)The obligation subregulation (1A) does not arise if the customer requesting supply —

(a)owes an amount of money to the retailer; and

(b)has not —

(i)entered into an arrangement with the retailer for payment of the amount owed; or

(ii)complied with the terms of any such arrangement.

(4)It is a condition of every retail licence and integrated regional licence held by a retailer that the retailer must comply with the obligation in subregulation (1A) if that obligation arises in respect of the retailer.

[Regulation 40 amended: Gazette 31 Mar 2006 p. 1344; SL 2022/103 r. 20.]

 

 

Notes

This is a compilation of the Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2005 and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation see the compilation table.

Compilation table

Citation

Published

Commencement

Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2005

23 Dec 2005 p. 6256-66

1 Jan 2006 (see r. 2)

Electricity Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2006 r. 72

31 Mar 2006 p. 1299‑57

1 Apr 2006 (see r. 2)

Electricity Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2013 r. 8

27 Dec 2013 p. 6469-79

1 Jan 2014 (see r. 2(c) and Gazette 27 Dec 2013 p. 6465)

Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Amendment Regulations 2016

20 Sep 2016 p. 3966

r. 1 and 2: 20 Sep 2016 (see r. 2(a));
Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 20 Dec 2016 (see r. 2(b))

Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Amendment Regulations 2022

SL 2022/103 17 Jun 2022

r. 1 and 2: 17 Jun 2022 (see r. 2(a));
Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jan 2023 (see r. 2(b))

 

 

Defined terms

 

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined termProvision(s)

acceptable identification22(1)

bank bill rate12(4)

bank bill swap rate31E(1)

benefit change12(1)

business day3

code of conduct3

connection point35

cooling-off period15(5), 22(1), 32(1)

current contract34A(4)

customer3, 31A, 34C(1)

customer contract3

default supplier34C(4), 40(1)

distributor3, 35

door to door contract22(1)

electricity ombudsman31C(1)

electricity ombudsman scheme31C(1)

first contract15(4), 15(6)

fixed term contract32A, 33(1)

form of identification26(3)

meter3

network equipment3

non-standard contract3

price3

provision3

relevant corporation40(1)

residential customer3

retailer3

retail licensee3

section3

security deposit3, 31F(1)

standard form contract3

supply3

supply premises3

 

 

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