ELECTRICITY (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 2012 - REG 3
ELECTRICITY (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 2012 - REG 3
(1) In these
regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—
"Act" means the Electricity Act 1996;
"active", in relation to a conductor, means—
(a)
any 1 of the conductors of a power system which is maintained at a
difference of potential from—
(i)
the neutral conductor; or
(ii)
an earthed conductor; or
(b) if a
power system does not include a neutral or earthed conductor—all
conductors;
"aerial line" means a powerline placed above the ground and in the open air;
"AS" or "Australian Standard", followed by a number, or "AS/NZS" or
"Australian/New Zealand Standard" followed by a number, is a reference to the
standard published by Standards Australia as in force from time to time;
"centre-line", in relation to an aerial line, means a notional vertical plane
extending upwards from any point on the ground and running through, and
connecting, the centre of each structure that supports the aerial line;
"circuit" means any number of conductors connected together for the purpose of
carrying current;
"conductor" means a wire, or other form of conducting material suitable for
carrying current, other than wires, cables or other metallic parts directly
used in converting electrical energy into another form of energy;
"connection point" means a connection point to a transmission or distribution
network;
"facade mounted line" means an aerial line attached to a building;
"high voltage" or "HV", in relation to electricity, means electricity at a
voltage exceeding 1 000 volts alternating current ("ac") or
1 500 volts direct current ("dc");
"insulated" means contained within a material or medium (including air) in
order to limit the flow of current between conductors at different potentials;
"insulated conductor" means a conductor that—
(a) is
wholly covered with insulating material in accordance with the appropriate
requirements of the relevant Approval and Test specification of an
Australian Standard; or
(b) is
of a type approved by the Technical Regulator;
"live"—a term applied to an object when a difference of potential exists
or would exist between it and earth under normal conditions of operation,
including all metal connected to the neutral conductor of the supply system
even if such neutral is earthed at the source of supply; but the following are
not to be taken to be live:
(a)
earthing conductors;
(b)
copper sheaths of Mineral Insulated Metal Sheathed
("MIMS") cables used in Earthed Sheathed Return ("ESR") systems;
(c)
neutral busbars or links in installations where the multiple earthed
neutral system is employed;
"low voltage" or "LV" has the same meaning as in AS/NZS 3000;
"metering provider" has the same meaning as in section 59(5) of the Act;
"multiple earthed neutral system" or "MEN system" means a system of earthing
in which the parts of an electrical installation required by AS/NZS 3000
to be earthed—
(a) are
connected to the general mass of earth; and
(b) are
connected within the installation to the neutral conductor of the supply
system;
"nominal system voltage" means the voltage by which a system of supply is
designated and to which certain operating characteristics of that system of
supply are referred in accordance with AS 2926 (as in force immediately
before it was superseded);
"operator", in relation to a transmission or distribution network, any
electricity infrastructure or any electrical installation, means the person
who operates, owns or controls the network, infrastructure or installation;
"other cable system" means—
(a)
telecommunication and control cables; or
(b)
aerial earthed cables; or
(c)
electrolysis drainage cables,
attached to, or in the vicinity of, structures supporting cables under the
control of an electricity entity;
"retail contract" means a contract between an electricity entity and a
customer for the sale and purchase of electricity;
"service line" means the terminating span of a powerline—
(a)
constructed or designed or ordinarily used for the supply of electricity at
low voltage; and
(b)
through which electricity is or is intended to be supplied by an electricity
entity to a customer from the transmission or distribution network of the
entity;
"substation" means any premises or place (including a switchyard) in which
high voltage supply is converted, controlled or transformed;
"technical installation rules" of the operator of a transmission or
distribution network, means the safety and technical requirements of the
operator relating to electrical installations that must be complied with if
electricity supply from the network is to be connected to the installations;
"U", in relation to voltage of electricity, means nominal system voltage;
"underground line" means a powerline which is placed under the ground,
including those portions which are erected above the ground.
(2) A provision
contained in a standard, code, guide or other document that is required to be
complied with under these regulations is not, despite that requirement, to be
taken to be a mandatory provision for the purposes of these regulations unless
it is expressed in mandatory terms.
(3) In
subregulation (2), a reference to a standard, code, guide or other
document includes a reference to a part of a standard, code, guide or other
document.