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Queensland
ELECTRICITY AMENDMENT
BILL 2000
Queensland
ELECTRICITY AMENDMENT BILL 2000
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 Amendment of s 40D (Connection and supply on
nondiscriminatory terms) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 Amendment of s 63 (Functions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
5 Insertion of new s 64AA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
64AA Funding for dispute resolution and complaint investigation
functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
6 Insertion of new ch 2, pt 8B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PART 8B--ENERGY ARBITRATORS
Division 1--Appointment
64S Appointment of panel of energy arbitrators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
64T Duration of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
64U Remuneration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
64V Resignation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
64W Termination of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Division 2--Functions and powers
64X Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
64Y Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7 Amendment of s 69 (Electricity officer's identity card) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
8 Amendment of s 74 (Authorised person's identity card) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
9 Amendment of s 119 (Regulator's role in disputes between
electricity entity and customers or occupiers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2
Electricity Amendment
10 Insertion of new ch 5, pt 1C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
PART 1C--DISPUTES REFERRED TO ENERGY ARBITRATOR
Division 1--Preliminary
120ZY Application of pt 1C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
120ZZ Excluded Commercial Arbitration Act 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
120ZZA Exclusion of other jurisdictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Division 2--Referring and arbitrating disputes
120ZZB How dispute is referred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
120ZZC Giving notice of referral to parties to dispute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
120ZZD Disclosure of interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
120ZZE Presentation of cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
120ZZF Conduct of arbitration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
120ZZG Power to require information from electricity entity . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Division 3--Orders and enforcement
120ZZH Orders that can be made . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
120ZZI No costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
120ZZJ Copy of order to be given to parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
120ZZK Order final . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
120ZZL Party, other than electricity entity, to advise whether order
accepted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
120ZZM When order takes effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
120ZZN Failure to comply with order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
120ZZO How order enforced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
120ZZP Energy arbitrator's report to regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
11 Amendment of s 253 (Advisory committees) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
12 Insertion of new ch 14, pt 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
PART 3--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR ELECTRICITY
AMENDMENT ACT 2000
303 Continuation of existing regional electricity councils . . . . . . . . . . . 15
13 Amendment of sch 5 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2000
A BILL
FOR
An Act to amend the Electricity Act 1994
s1 4 s5
Electricity Amendment
The Parliament of Queensland enacts-- 1
title 2
Short
Clause 1. This Act may be cited as the Electricity Amendment Act 2000. 3
amended 4
Act
Clause 2. This Act amends the Electricity Act 1994. 5
of s 40D (Connection and supply on nondiscriminatory 6
Amendment
terms) 7
Clause 3. Section 40D, heading, `nondiscriminatory'-- 8
omit, insert-- 9
`fair and reasonable'. 10
of s 63 (Functions) 11
Amendment
Clause 4. Section 63(1)-- 12
insert-- 13
`(da)to investigate complaints by customers about the performance or 14
operation of electricity entities; and'. 15
of new s 64AA 16
Insertion
Clause 5. Chapter 2, part 8-- 17
insert-- 18
for dispute resolution and complaint investigation functions 19
`Funding
`64AA.(1) The regulator's functions mentioned in section 63(1)(d) and 20
(da) are to be funded by a levy on electricity entities. 21
`(2) The levy, and the way in which it must be paid, are to be prescribed 22
by regulation. 23
s6 5 s6
Electricity Amendment
`(3) An electricity entity must pay the levy in the prescribed way. 1
`(4) The chief executive may recover an unpaid levy as a debt payable by 2
the electricity entity liable to pay it.'. 3
of new ch 2, pt 8B 4
Insertion
Clause 6. Chapter 2-- 5
insert-- 6
`PART 8B--ENERGY ARBITRATORS 7
`Division 1--Appointment 8
of panel of energy arbitrators 9
`Appointment
`64S.(1) The Minister, by gazette notice, may appoint not more than 10
7 persons as energy arbitrators to deal with disputes to which section 1191 11
applies. 12
`(2) A person may be appointed as an energy arbitrator only if the 13
person-- 14
(a) is an arbitrator graded by the Institute of Arbitrators and 15
Mediators, Australia; or 16
(b) has the qualifications and experience the Minister considers 17
appropriate to perform the functions, and exercise the powers, of 18
an energy arbitrator. 19
of appointment 20
`Duration
`64T. An energy arbitrator is appointed for a term of not more than 21
2 years stated in the instrument of appointment. 22
1 Section 119 (Regulator's role in disputes between electricity entity and
customers or occupiers)
s6 6 s6
Electricity Amendment
1
`Remuneration
`64U.(1) An energy arbitrator is to be paid the remuneration and 2
allowances approved by the Governor in Council. 3
`(2) The remuneration and allowances must be paid out of levies paid to 4
the chief executive by electricity entities under section 64AA. 5
6
`Resignation
`64V.(1) An energy arbitrator may resign by signed notice of resignation 7
given to the Minister. 8
`(2) The Minister must give notice of the resignation by gazette notice. 9
of appointment 10
`Termination
`64W.(1) The Minister, by written notice given to an energy arbitrator, 11
may terminate the person's appointment as an energy arbitrator if the 12
Minister reasonably believes the person is not satisfactorily performing the 13
functions of an energy arbitrator. 14
`(2) The notice must contain the Minister's reasons for terminating the 15
appointment. 16
`(3) The Minister must give notice of the termination by gazette notice. 17
2--Functions and powers 18
`Division
unctions 19
`F
`64X. An energy arbitrator's function is to arbitrate disputes referred to 20
the energy arbitrator under section 120ZZB.2 21
22
`Powers
`64Y. An energy arbitrator may do anything necessary or convenient to 23
be done for performing the energy arbitrator's functions.'. 24
2 Section 120ZZB (How dispute is referred)
s7 7 s9
Electricity Amendment
of s 69 (Electricity officer's identity card) 1
Amendment
Clause 7. Section 69(2)(c)-- 2
omit, insert-- 3
`(c) display the electricity officer's usual signature; and'. 4
of s 74 (Authorised person's identity card) 5
Amendment
Clause 8. Section 74(2)(b)-- 6
omit, insert-- 7
`(b) display the authorised person's usual signature; and'. 8
of s 119 (Regulator's role in disputes between electricity 9
Amendment
entity and customers or occupiers) 10
Clause 9.(1) Section 119-- 11
insert-- 12
`(1A) However, this section does not apply to the following disputes-- 13
(a) a dispute to which section 117 applies; 14
(b) a dispute that may be dealt with under-- 15
(i) the Queensland Competition Authority Act 1997; or 16
(ii) the Electricity--National Scheme (Queensland) Act 1997.'. 17
(2) Section 119(2) and (3)-- 18
omit, insert-- 19
`(2) A party to a dispute may refer the dispute to the regulator. 20
`(3) The referral must be in the approved form. 21
`(3A) The regulator may-- 22
(a) decline to act in the dispute; or 23
(b) attempt to settle the dispute by mediation; or 24
(c) if the regulator reasonably believes the dispute can not be settled 25
s 10 8 s 10
Electricity Amendment
by mediation, refer the dispute to an energy arbitrator under 1
section 120ZZB.3 2
`(3B) Subsection (5)(c) does not apply to a dispute that arose more than 3
1 year before the commencement of section 120ZZB. 4
`(3C) The regulator may give the parties written instructions about the 5
procedures to be followed by the parties to attempt to resolve the dispute, or 6
other action the parties must take before the regulator will attempt to settle 7
the dispute by mediation or refer the dispute to an energy arbitrator.'. 8
(3) Section 119(1A) to (8)-- 9
renumber as section 119(2) to (12). 10
of new ch 5, pt 1C 11
Insertion
Clause 10. Chapter 5-- 12
insert-- 13
`PART 1C--DISPUTES REFERRED TO ENERGY 14
ARBITRATOR 15
`Division 1--Preliminary 16
of pt 1C 17
`Application
`120ZY. This part applies to a dispute to which section 1194 applies. 18
Commercial Arbitration Act 1990 19
`Excluded
`120ZZ. The Commercial Arbitration Act 1990 does not apply to a 20
dispute to which this part applies. 21
3 Section 120ZZB (How dispute is referred)
4 Section 119 (Regulator's role in disputes between electricity entity and
customers or occupiers)
s 10 9 s 10
Electricity Amendment
of other jurisdictions 1
`Exclusion
`120ZZA.(1) If, under this part, a dispute has been referred to an energy 2
arbitrator, the following matters are not justiciable by a court or tribunal at 3
the instigation of an electricity entity that is a party to the dispute-- 4
(a) the issue in dispute; 5
(b) any issue that emerges in the course of the arbitration. 6
`(2) However, subsection (1) does not apply if-- 7
(a) the proceeding before the court or tribunal was started before the 8
dispute was referred to the energy arbitrator; or 9
(b) the referral to the energy arbitrator has been withdrawn or struck 10
out for want of jurisdiction; or 11
(c) the energy arbitrator decides that, because of the nature or 12
complexity of an issue, the dispute should not be heard by the 13
energy arbitrator. 14
2--Referring and arbitrating disputes 15
`Division
dispute is referred 16
`How
`120ZZB.(1) The regulator, and only the regulator, may refer a dispute to 17
an energy arbitrator. 18
`(2) The regulator may make the referral only if the party to the dispute, 19
other than the electricity entity, has agreed to the referral. 20
`(3) The referral must be written. 21
`(4) The regulator must not refer a dispute to an energy arbitrator if the 22
regulator knows a party to the dispute has started an action in a court or 23
tribunal concerning any issue in the dispute. 24
notice of referral to parties to dispute 25
`Giving
`120ZZC.(1) If the regulator refers a dispute to an energy arbitrator, the 26
regulator must give the parties written notice of the referral. 27
`(2) The notice must state the following-- 28
s 10 10 s 10
Electricity Amendment
(a) that the dispute has been referred to an energy arbitrator; 1
(b) the name and contact details of the energy arbitrator. 2
of interests 3
`Disclosure
`120ZZD.(1) The energy arbitrator must not arbitrate a dispute if-- 4
(a) the energy arbitrator has a direct or indirect interest in the dispute; 5
and 6
(b) the interest could conflict with the appropriate performance of the 7
energy arbitrator's functions concerning the dispute. 8
`(2) However, this section does not apply to the energy arbitrator if the 9
interest consists only of the receipt of services, or information about 10
electricity supply, that-- 11
(a) are also available to members of the public; and 12
(b) are made available on the same terms that apply to members of 13
the public. 14
`(3) If subsection (1) applies, the energy arbitrator must advise the 15
regulator of the potential conflict of interest. 16
`(4) After receiving the advice, the regulator must refer the dispute to 17
another energy arbitrator. 18
of cases 19
`Presentation
`120ZZE.(1) Each party to a dispute before the energy arbitrator must 20
conduct their own case. 21
`(2) A party may only be represented by an agent if the energy arbitrator 22
agrees. 23
`(3) A party must not be represented by a lawyer under subsection (2) 24
unless-- 25
(a) the parties to the dispute agree; and 26
(b) the energy arbitrator is satisfied there is no disadvantage to a party 27
to the dispute. 28
s 10 11 s 10
Electricity Amendment
of arbitration 1
`Conduct
`120ZZF.(1) Evidence in the dispute may be given to the energy 2
arbitrator in the way the energy arbitrator considers appropriate. 3
`(2) Subject to this Act, the energy arbitrator-- 4
(a) may conduct the arbitration in the way he or she considers 5
appropriate; and 6
(b) is not bound by the rules of evidence and may inform himself or 7
herself in the way he or she considers appropriate. 8
`(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the energy arbitrator may rely on 9
evidence given to the regulator in the course of the regulator attempting to 10
settle the dispute. 11
to require information from electricity entity 12
`Power
`120ZZG.(1) A party to the dispute must give the energy arbitrator the 13
information the energy arbitrator reasonably requires to perform the energy 14
arbitrator's functions. 15
`(2) The information must be given within a reasonable time after the 16
energy arbitrator asks for it. 17
`(3) A person must not contravene a requirement under this section 18
without reasonable excuse. 19
Maximum penalty--500 penalty units. 20
`(4) It is a reasonable excuse for a person not to comply with a 21
requirement if doing so might tend to incriminate the person. 22
`Division 3--Orders and enforcement 23
that can be made 24
`Orders
`120ZZH.(1) The energy arbitrator may make the following orders 25
against an electricity entity that is a party to a dispute-- 26
(a) an order that the electricity entity must pay to another party to the 27
dispute an amount of no more than $10 000; 28
s 10 12 s 10
Electricity Amendment
(b) a non-monetary order the energy arbitrator considers appropriate 1
against the electricity entity to remedy any issue in the dispute. 2
`(2) When making the order, the energy arbitrator must consider the 3
following-- 4
(a) the objects of this Act; 5
(b) the rights and obligations of the parties under this Act, including 6
under any contract between the parties. 7
`(3) Despite subsection (1)(b), the energy arbitrator can not cancel, 8
suspend or amend the authority of an electricity entity. 9
costs 10
`No
`120ZZI. Costs may not be awarded by the energy arbitrator to or 11
against a party to the dispute. 12
of order to be given to parties 13
`Copy
`120ZZJ. The energy arbitrator must give a copy of any order given 14
concerning the dispute to the parties to the dispute. 15
final 16
`Order
`120ZZK.(1) Subject to section 120ZZL, an order made by the energy 17
arbitrator binds an electricity entity that is a party to the dispute. 18
`(2) The entity may not apply for review of, or appeal against, the order 19
other than under the Judicial Review Act 1991. 20
other than electricity entity, to advise whether order accepted 21
`Party,
`120ZZL.(1) A party to a dispute, other than the electricity entity, must 22
give written notice to the energy arbitrator if the party decides not to accept 23
the energy arbitrator's order against the electricity entity. 24
`(2) The notice must be given within 21 days after the party receives a 25
copy of the order. 26
`(3) If a notice under subsection (1) is not given within the 21 days, the 27
s 10 13 s 10
Electricity Amendment
party is taken to have accepted the order and the order binds the party. 1
`(4) If the order is binding on the party, the party may not apply for a 2
review of, or appeal against, the order other than under the Judicial Review 3
Act 1991. 4
order takes effect 5
`When
`120ZZM. An order by the energy arbitrator takes effect-- 6
(a) when the order is made; or 7
(b) if the order states a later day or event for the order to take 8
effect--on the later day or event. 9
to comply with order 10
`Failure
`120ZZN.(1) An electricity entity must comply with an order of the 11
energy arbitrator. 12
`(2) If an electricity entity contravenes an order of the energy arbitrator, 13
the other party to the dispute may refer the matter to the regulator. 14
`(3) If the matter is referred to the regulator by the other party, the 15
regulator may take action against the electricity entity under section 133(1). 16
order enforced 17
`How
`120ZZO.(1) If the energy arbitrator orders an electricity entity to pay an 18
amount to a person, the person may enforce the order by filing the order in a 19
Magistrates Court. 20
`(2) Once the order is filed, it is taken to be a judgment of the Magistrates 21
Court. 22
arbitrator's report to regulator 23
`Energy
`120ZZP. The energy arbitrator must give the regulator-- 24
(a) a written report on the outcome of the arbitration; and 25
(b) a copy of any order made by the energy arbitrator in the 26
arbitration.'. 27
s 11 14 s 12
Electricity Amendment
of s 253 (Advisory committees) 1
Amendment
Clause 11.(1) Section 253(1), `Advisory committees for the administration of 2
this Act'-- 3
omit, insert-- 4
`For this Act, advisory committees'. 5
(2) Section 253-- 6
insert-- 7
`(3A) Without limiting subsection (2) or (3), an advisory committee's 8
function may be to give information and advice on matters impacting on 9
communities in a particular region to the following-- 10
(a) the Minister; 11
(b) the department; 12
(c) distribution entities or retail entities. 13
14
Examples of `matters impacting on communities in a particular region' for
15
subsection (4)--
16
1. Service levels provided by electricity entities.
17
2. Reliability of electricity supply.
18
3. Environmental concerns.
19
4. Major electricity infrastructure projects.
20
5. Proposed changes to the local electricity network.'.
(3) Section 253(3A) and (4)-- 21
renumber as section 253(4) and (5). 22
of new ch 14, pt 2 23
Insertion
Clause 12. Chapter 14-- 24
insert-- 25
s 13 15 s 13
Electricity Amendment
`PART 3--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR 1
ELECTRICITY AMENDMENT ACT 2000 2
of existing regional electricity councils 3
`Continuation
`303.(1) This section applies to a regional electricity council-- 4
(a) established by the Minister to provide information about regional 5
electricity issues and requirements to the State and electricity 6
retailers; and 7
(b) in existence immediately before the commencement of the 8
Electricity Amendment Act 2000. 9
`(2) The council continues in existence as if it had been established as an 10
advisory committee under section 2535 with the function of giving 11
information and advice on matters impacting on the region for which it was 12
established.'. 13
of sch 5 (Dictionary) 14
Amendment
Clause 13. Schedule 5-- 15
insert-- 16
` "energy arbitrator" means a person appointed as an energy arbitrator 17
under section 64S(1). 18
"reasonably believes" means believes on grounds that are reasonable in the 19
circumstances.'. 20
© State of Queensland 2000
5 Section 253 (Advisory committees)
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