ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY ACT 2000 - SECT 40B Compensation for wrongful disconnection

ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY ACT 2000 - SECT 40B

S. 40B(1) amended by No. 28/2021 s. 8(1)(a)(b).

    (1)     Without limiting the generality of section 20(2) or (3) or section 21, the conditions to which a licence to sell electricity is subject include a condition requiring the retailer to make a payment of the prescribed amount to a relevant customer in accordance with this section if the retailer arranges for the supply of electricity at the premises of that customer to be disconnected and—

S. 40B(1)(a) substituted by No. 28/2021 s. 8(1)(c).

        (a)     the retailer does so otherwise than in accordance with Subdivision 3 of Division 5C; or

S. 40B(1)(b) substituted by No. 28/2021 s. 8(1)(c).

        (b)     the retailer fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the supply and sale contract specifying the circumstances in which the supply of electricity at those premises may be disconnected.

S. 40B(1A) inserted by No. 59/2011 s. 34(1), amended by No. 28/2021 s. 8(2).

    (1A)     Despite subsection (1), if the relevant customer does not notify the retailer of the disconnection within 14 days after the disconnection, the maximum payment under a condition under subsection (1) is the prescribed capped amount.

    (2)     A payment under a condition under subsection (1) may be made directly to the customer or by way of rebate on the customer's electricity bill.

S. 40B(3) substituted by No. 28/2021 s. 8(3).

    (3)     A payment under a condition under subsection (1) must be made as soon as practicable after—

        (a)     the reconnection of the supply of electricity at the premises of the relevant customer arranged by a retailer under this Act; or

        (b)     a relevant event occurs.

    (4)     Nothing in this section affects any other right any person or body may have to take action against a licensee in relation to a disconnection of a supply of electricity.

    (5)     In this section—

S. 40B(5) def. of prescribed amount amended by No. 49/2015 s. 9, substituted by No. 28/2021 s. 8(4)(a).

"prescribed amount" means—

        (a)     the amount prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section; or

        (b)     if no amount is prescribed by the regulations—

              (i)     if a relevant event occurs—$500 for each whole day that the supply of electricity is disconnected and a pro rata amount for any part of a day that the supply of electricity is disconnected, ending on the occurrence of the relevant event; or

              (ii)     in any other case—$500 for each whole day that the supply of electricity is disconnected and a pro rata amount for any part of a day that the supply of electricity is disconnected;

S. 40B(5) def. of prescribed capped amount inserted by No. 59/2011 s. 34(2).

"prescribed capped amount "means—

        (a)     the amount prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of subsection (1A); or

        (b)     if no amount is prescribed, $3,500.00;

S. 40B(5) def. of relevant customer amended by No. 28/2021 s. 8(4)(b).

"relevant customer" has the same meaning as in section 36;

S. 40B(5) def. of relevant event inserted by No. 28/2021 s. 8(4)(c).

"relevant event" means—

        (a)     a relevant customer's refusal of an offer from a retailer to arrange for the reconnection of the supply of electricity at the relevant customer's premises; or

        (b)     an event the result of which means it is not reasonably practicable for the retailer to arrange for the reconnection of the supply of electricity at the relevant customer's premises; or

        (c)     a prescribed event.

S. 40B(6) inserted by No. 28/2021 s. 8(5).

    (6)     For the purposes of the definition of relevant event in subsection (5), an offer from a retailer must not include any condition or requirement for reconnection other than any condition or requirement permitted under the supply and sale contract or any Act or law.

S. 40C inserted by No. 91/2004 s. 13.