Australian Capital Territory Numbered Acts

UTILITIES ACT 2000 (NO 65 OF 2000)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Name of Act  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      ICRC's objects  
   4.      Dictionary  
   5.      Notes  

   PART 2--UTILITY SERVICES

   6.      Electricity services  
   7.      Electricity network  
   8.      Gas—terminology  
   9.      Gas services  
   10.     Gas networks  
   11.     Water services  
   12.     Water network  
   13.     Sewerage services  
   14.     Sewerage network  
   15.     Prescribed utility services  
   16.     Network boundary  
   17.     Customers  
   18.     Declaration of non-franchise customers  
   19.     Ministerial directions  
   20.     Other laws not affected  

   PART 3--LICENSING OF UTILITIES

   21.     Requirement for licence  
   22.     Exemption  
   23.     Licensed utility services  
   24.     Duration  
   25.     General conditions  
   26.     Technical and prudential criteria  
   27.     Special conditions—electricity, gas or water supply services  
   28.     Special conditions—electricity distribution or supply  
   29.     Special conditions—gas transmission or distribution  
   30.     Special conditions—gas distribution or supply  
   31.     Special conditions—gas distribution  
   32.     Rights under licences  
   33.     Partnerships and other groups  
   34.     Applications  
   35.     Further information  
   36.     Public consultation  
   37.     Grant  
   38.     Variation  
   39.     Exemption from licence condition  
   40.     Transfer  
   41.     Surrender  
   42.     Revocation  
   43.     AAT review of decisions  
   44.     Liability  
   45.     Determination of fee  
   46.     Review of licence conditions  
   47.     Contravention of licence condition  
   48.     Directions about licence condition  
   49.     Directions about accounts and records  
   50.     Contravention of direction  
   51.     Protection of personal information  
   52.     Public notice of licence decisions  
   53.     Public access to licences etc  
   54.     Annual reports—technical and environmental matters  

   PART 4--INDUSTRY CODES

   55.     Contents  
   56.     Application  
   58.     Approved codes  
   59.     Determined codes  
   60.     Public consultation  
   61.     Variation  
   62.     Publication, commencement and disallowance  
   63.     Public access  

   PART 5--TECHNICAL REGULATION

   64.     Contents  
   65.     Application of industry code provisions  
   66.     Functions of chief executive  
   67.     Technical inspectors  
   68.     Identity cards  
   69.     Inspectors' powers  
   70.     Directions about technical codes  
   71.     Contravention of direction  
   72.     Obtaining information and documents  
   73.     Contravention of requirement under section 72  
   74.     Selfincrimination etc  
   75.     Legal professional privilege  
   76.     Obstruction  

   PART 6--ACCESS TO UTILITY SERVICES

   77.     Exercise of rights  
   78.     Form of application  
   79.     Electricity connection service  
   80.     Electricity supply service  
   81.     Gas connection service  
   82.     Gas supply service  
   83.     Water connection service  
   84.     Water supply service  
   85.     Sewerage connection service  
   86.     Sewerage service  
   87.     Terms  
   88.     Draft contracts  
   89.     Approval of terms  
   90.     Determination of terms  
   91.     Application of terms  
   92.     Creation of standard customer contracts  
   93.     Variation of terms  
   94.     Water supply and sewerage services—owner's liability for payment  
   95.     Negotiated customer contracts  
   96.     Unauthorised arrangements for utility services  
   97.     Approved meters  
   98.     Passing on the cost of electricity  
   99.     Passing on the cost of gas  
   100.    Passing on the cost of water  
   101.    Capital contribution charges—network development  
   102.    Alternative energy—supply utilities not to discriminate  

   PART 7--NETWORK OPERATIONS

   103.    Definitions  
   104.    Acquisition of land  
   105.    Installation of network facilities  
   106.    Maintenance of network facilities  
   107.    National Land  
   108.    Damage etc to be minimised  
   109.    Notice to land-holder  
   110.    Notice about lopping trees etc on private land  
   111.    Notice to other utilities  
   112.    Removal of utility's property and waste  
   113.    Land to be restored  
   114.    Appointment  
   115.    Identity cards  
   116.    Entry to premises—network operations  
   117.    Entry to premises—inspection of meters etc  
   118.    Obstruction  
   119.    Order to enforce exercise of powers  
   120.    Ownership of network facilities  
   121.    Clarifying ownership of certain network facilities  
   122.    Effect of declaration under section 121  

   PART 8--PROTECTION OF NETWORKS

   123.    Definitions  
   124.    Interference with networks  
   125.    Network protection notices  
   126.    Contamination of water  
   127.    Prohibited substances—water or sewerage network  
   128.    Exempt water treatments  
   129.    Unauthorised network connections  
   130.    Unauthorised abstraction etc of electricity  
   131.    Unauthorised abstraction etc of gas  
   132.    Unauthorised abstraction etc of water  
   133.    Extended meaning of network  

   PART 9--CONTROLLER'S POWER TO TAKE OVER OPERATIONS

   134.    Extended meaning of utility  
   135.    Appointment of controller  
   136.    Functions and powers  
   137.    Utility to cooperate  
   138.    Reports to Minister  
   139.    Ministerial directions  
   140.    Contravention of controller's direction  
   141.    Obstructing controller  
   142.    Immunity from personal liability  
   143.    Right to compensation  
   144.    Claims  
   145.    Acceptance or rejection of claim  
   146.    Acceptance or rejection of compensation offer  
   147.    Payment  
   148.    Role of court  
   149.    Recovery of compensation  

   PART 10--ENFORCEMENT

   150.    Definitions  
   151.    Things connected with offences  
   152.    Appointment  
   153.    Identity cards  
   154.    Power to enter premises  
   155.    Production of identity card  
   156.    Consent to entry  
   157.    Warrants  
   158.    Warrants—application made other than in person  
   159.    Powers on entry to premises  
   160.    Power to seize evidence  
   161.    Receipt for things seized  
   162.    Access to things seized  
   163.    Return of things seized  
   164.    Powers to enter and inspect premises  
   165.    Powers to enter and inspect premises  
   166.    Selfincrimination etc  
   167.    Legal professional privilege  
   168.    Obstruction  

   PART 11--ESSENTIAL SERVICES CONSUMER COUNCIL

   169.    Establishment  
   170.    Functions  
   171.    Proceedings in Magistrates Court  
   172.    Protection of personal and confidential information  
   173.    Annual reports  
   174.    Members  
   175.    Appointment  
   176.    Resignation  
   177.    Termination of appointment  
   178.    Registrar  
   179.    Staff  
   180.    Immunity from personal liability  
   181.    Arrangement of business  
   182.    Exercise of powers  
   183.    Member ceasing to be available  

   PART 12--COMPLAINTS

   184.    Definitions  
   185.    Complaints to which this Part applies  
   186.    Complaints to council  
   187.    Preliminary inquiries  
   188.    Withdrawal of complaint  
   189.    Dismissal of complaint  
   190.    Notice to utility  
   191.    Procedure  
   192.    Interim directions  
   193.    Participation by telephone etc  
   194.    Hearings  
   195.    Appearance and representation  
   196.    Taking evidence  
   197.    Refusing to take oath or make affirmation  
   198.    Obtaining information and documents  
   199.    Contravention of requirement under s 198  
   200.    Witnesses to answer questions etc  
   201.    Selfincrimination etc  
   202.    Legal professional privilege  
   203.    Restrictions on publication  
   204.    Contravention of direction about publication  
   205.    Reference of question of law to Supreme Court  
   206.    Decisions of council  
   207.    Continuity of utility services—nonpayment of customer debt  
   208.    Discharge of customer debt  
   209.    Payment for loss or damage  
   210.    Notice of decision  
   211.    Decisions by agreement  
   212.    Records  
   213.    Correction of errors  
   214.    Protection of lawyers and witnesses  
   215.    Obstructing council etc  
   216.    Providing false information  
   217.    Providing false or misleading documents  
   218.    Reimbursement of utilities for customer debts discharged  

   PART 13--COMMUNITY SERVICE OBLIGATIONS

   219.    Purposes of this Part  
   220.    Agreement to be sought  
   221.    Direction by Minister  
   222.    Determination of costs  
   223.    Liability for costs  
   224.    Compliance with direction  
   225.    Arbitration of dispute about cost  

   PART 14--VICARIOUS LIABILITY

   226.    Proceedings under this Part  
   227.    Liability of corporations  
   228.    Liability of persons other than corporations  

   PART 15--MISCELLANEOUS

   229.    Determination of fees  
   230.    Evidentiary certificate—Government programs  
   231.    Evidence of authorisation by utility  
   232.    Former water and sewerage rates schemes—extended operation  
   233.    Compensation—safety net  
   234.    Regulations  

   PART 16--TRANSITIONAL

   235.    First industry codes  
   236.    First technical codes  
   237.    Commencement day  
   238.    Repeals  
   239.    Electricity Supply Act—licences etc  
   240.    Existing standard customer contracts  
   241.    Expiry of this Division  
   242.    Commencement day  
   243.    Repeal  
   244.    Gas Supply Act—authorisations  
   245.    Pending customer applications  
   246.    Safety and operating plans  
   247.    Expiry of this Division  
   248.    Commencement day  
   249.    Repeals  
   250.    Energy and Water Act  
   251.    Essential Services (Continuity of Supply) Act  
   252.    Regulations—transitional matters  
   253.    Expiry of this Division