New South Wales Consolidated Acts

GAS SUPPLY ACT 1996 - SECT 33C

33C Right to supply of gas from standard supplier for small retail customers

(cf section 34 of Electricity Supply Act 1995 )

(1) A small retail customer who owns or occupies premises:

(a) that are within a standard supplier’s supply district, and

(b) that are connected to a distribution pipeline in accordance with the regulations,

may apply to the standard supplier to be supplied with natural gas at those premises under a standard form customer supply contract.

(2) Such an application may be made by any person on behalf of a small retail customer referred to in subsection (1).

(3) If a small retail customer referred to in subsection (1) makes such an application, the standard supplier is under an obligation:

(a) to supply natural gas to the applicant’s premises under a standard form customer supply contract, or

(b) to ensure that natural gas is so supplied.

(4) The right that a person has under this section to be supplied with natural gas to premises is subject to:

(a) any provision of this Act or the regulations that authorises the refusal, suspension or discontinuance of the supply of natural gas, and

(b) the capacity of the connection of the premises to the distribution pipeline, having regard to the need to maintain the safety and reliability of the pipeline.

(5) It is a condition of a standard supplier’s authorisation that the supplier must fulfil the obligations imposed on the supplier by this section.

(6) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to applications under this section, including provisions for or with respect to the circumstances in which such an application is or may be taken to have been made.