Northern Territory Numbered Acts

ELECTRICAL SAFETY ACT 2022 (NO 3 OF 2022) - SECT 265

This Division amends the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act 1990 .

266     Section 47 repealed (Compliance with standard for supply of electrical appliance)

Section 47

repeal

267     Act amended

This Division amends the Electricity Reform Act 2000 .

268     Long title amended

Long title

omit

safety and

269     Section 3 amended (Objects)

(1)     Section 3(b)

omit

safe and

(2)     Section 3(c)

omit

safety,

(3)     Section 3(d)

omit

safety and

270     Section 4 amended (Interpretation)

Section 4, definition electricity safety regulator

omit

271     Part 2, Division 2 repealed (Electricity safety regulator)

Part 2, Division 2

repeal

272     Section 27 amended (Limitation on obligation to connect and distribute)

(1)     Section 27(1)(b)

omit

or safety requirements under this Act

insert

requirements under this Act or the Electrical Safety Act 2022

(2)     Section 27(1)(f)

omit

cause fire or electric shock to anyone

insert

create an electrical risk under the Electrical Safety Act 2022

273     Section 41 replaced

Section 41

repeal, insert

41     Power to take over operations

    (1)     The Utilities Commission may request the Minister to make a determination under this section authorising it to take over all or part of an electricity entity's operations if:

    (a)     the electricity entity contravenes a condition of its licence; or

    (b)     the electricity entity's licence expires, is suspended or is cancelled; or

    (c)     the electricity entity commits an offence against the Electrical Safety Act 2022 .

    (2)     Before requesting a determination, the Utilities Commission must give the electricity entity a reasonable opportunity to show cause why the action should not be taken.

    (3)     The Minister may make a determination under this section if satisfied that it is necessary to ensure an adequate, reliable and secure generation, supply or sale of electricity to customers.

    (4)     A determination under this section:

    (a)     authorises the Utilities Commission to take over the electricity entity's operations or a specified part of the electricity entity's operations; and

    (b)     may contain ancillary directions, including directions about how the costs of carrying on the operations and revenue generated from the operations are to be dealt with.

    (5)     A direction under subsection (4)(b) operates despite any rights inconsistent with it.

274     Section 60 amended (Entry to inspect, etc., electrical installations)

Section 60(5)

omit

275     Section 63 amended (Disconnection of supply if entry refused)

Section 63(6), after "supply" ( all references )

insert

disconnected under this section

276     Part 4, Division 4 repealed

Part 4, Division 4

repeal

277     Part 4, Division 5, heading amended

Part 4, Division 5, heading

omit

in emergencies

insert

related to electricity supply and systems

278     Part 5 replaced

Part 5

repeal , insert

67     Power to disconnect electrical supply

    (1)     An electricity officer may disconnect the electricity supply to an electrical installation or a place if:

    (a)     the electrical installation is connected to an electricity network in contravention of the Electrical Safety Act 2022 ; or

    (b)     the electrical installation does not comply with this Act; or

    (c)     electricity is being supplied to, or consumed at, the place contrary to this Act.

    (2)     For subsection (1)(a), a person may rely on a certificate of compliance issued under section 41 of the Electrical Safety Act 2022 .

    (3)     The electricity officer must give written notice to the person in charge of the electrical installation or place:

    (a)     informing the person that the electricity supply was disconnected under this section; and

    (b)     directing that the electricity supply must not be reconnected except in accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2022 .

68     Disconnection of cathodic protection system

    (1)     An electricity officer who finds that a cathodic protection system does not comply with, or is being operated contrary to, the Electrical Safety Act 2022 may:

    (a)     take reasonable action to disconnect the system to make it inoperable; or

    (b)     give a written direction to the person in charge of the system, or the place in which the system is situated, to take reasonable action to disconnect the system to make it inoperable.

    (2)     If the electricity officer takes action under subsection (1)(a), the electricity officer must give written notice to the person in charge of the cathodic protection system:

    (a)     informing the person that the electricity supply was disconnected under this section; and

    (b)     directing that the electricity supply must not be reconnected except in accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2022 .

69     Offences

    (1)     A person must not reconnect electricity supply disconnected under section 67 or 68, or have it reconnected, except in accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2022 .

Maximum penalty:     500 penalty units.

    (2)     A person to whom a direction is given under section 68(1)(b) must comply with the direction.

Maximum penalty:     500 penalty units.

279     Section 72 amended (Appointment of authorised officers)

Section 72(3) and (4)

omit, insert

    (3)     An authorised officer's function is to assist the Utilities Commission.

    (4)     An authorised officer is subject to control and direction by the Utilities Commission.

280     Section 77 amended (General investigative powers of authorised officers)

(1)     Section 77(1)(b) and (c)

omit, insert

    (b)     examine and test electricity infrastructure in the place to find out whether the infrastructure complies with the requirements of this Act;

(2)     Section 77(2)(b)(ii)

omit

or electricity safety regulator (as the case may be)

(3)     Section 77(4)

omit, insert

    (4)     The Utilities Commission may dispose of an object if the Court orders its confiscation.

281     Sections 78 to 80 repealed

Sections 78 to 80

repeal

282     Part 6, Division 3 inserted

After section 81

insert

Division 3     Auditors

81A     Appointment of auditors

    (1)     The Utilities Commission may appoint suitable persons as auditors to audit the operations of electricity entities.

    (2)     A person appointed to be an auditor may be a public sector employee.

    (3)     An auditor is subject to control and direction by the Utilities Commission.

283     Section 82 repealed (Interpretation)

Section 82

repeal

284     Section 83 amended (Review of decisions by relevant regulator)

(1)     Section 83, heading

omit

by relevant regulator

(2)     Section 83(1) to (7)

omit ( all references )

relevant regulator

insert

Utilities Commission

(3)     Section 83(1)(a) and (b), at the end

insert

or

(4)     Section 83(1)(c) and (d)

omit, insert

    (c)     by a person subject to a direction given by an authorised officer for review of the decision to give the direction; or

    (d)     by a person affected by the disconnection of an electricity supply, other than for a safety reason, for review of the decision to disconnect the supply.

(5)     Section 83(2)(e)(iv), after "protection system"

insert

, other than for a safety reason

(6)     Section 83(2)(e)(i) to (iii), at the end

insert

or

(7)     Section 83(7)

omit

relevant regulator's

insert

and

Utilities Commission's

285     Section 84 amended (Appeal)

(1)     Section 84(1), (3) and (4)

omit

relevant regulator

insert

Utilities Commission

(2)     Section 84(4)(a)

omit

relevant regulator's

insert

Utilities Commission's

286     Section 87 amended (Power of exemption)

Section 87(4) and (5)

omit

287     Section 88 amended (Register of exemptions)

Section 88(2)

omit

288     Section 92 amended (Minimum standards of service for non-contestable customers)

Section 92(1) and (2)(a)

omit

and safety

289     Sections 96 to 99 repealed

Sections 96, 97, 98 and 99

repeal

290     Section 103 amended (Statutory declarations)

Section 103

omit (all references)

or electricity safety regulator

291     Section 105 amended (Criminal liability of executive officer of body corporate)

Section 105(7), definition declared provision , paragraph (a)

omit

, 90(1), 96(1), 97(1) or (2), 98(1) or 99(1) or (3)

insert

or 90(1)

292     Section 109 amended (Evidence)

Section 109(4)

omit

293     Section 111 amended (Regulations)

(1)     Section 111(2)(c)

omit

, operational and safety

insert

and operational

(2)     Section 111(6)(b)

omit

, the Utilities Commission or the electricity safety regulator

insert

or the Utilities Commission

294     Regulations amended

This Division amends the Electricity Reform (Administration) Regulations 2000 .

295     Part 5 repealed (Vegetation clearance)

Part 5

repeal

296     Act amended

This Division amends the Work Health Administration Act 2011 .

297     Section 14 amended (Jurisdiction of Court)

After section 14(b)

insert

    (ba)     under the Electrical Safety Act 2022 , to hear and determine:

        (i)     all applications made to the Court under section 214 of that Act; and

        (ii)     all other matters required or permitted by that Act to be dealt with by the Court;

This Division amends the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011 .

299     Regulation 5 amended (Definitions)

(1)     Regulation 5(1), definitions electrical equipment and electrical installation

omit

(2)     Regulation 5(1)

insert

"electrical equipment", see section 6 of the Electrical Safety Act 2022 .

"electrical installation", see section 7 of the Electrical Safety Act 2022 .

(3)     Regulation 5(1), definition competent person , paragraph (a)

omit

(4)     Regulation 5(1), definition safe work method statement , paragraph (a)

omit

regulation 161;

insert

the Electrical Safety Act 2022 ; or

300     Part 4.7 (General electrical safety in workplaces and energised electrical work) and regulations 725 to 729 repealed

Part 4.7 and regulations 725 to 729

repeal

301     Schedule 19 amended (Infringement notice offences and prescribed amounts)

Schedule 19

omit

regulation 150(1) or (2)	$432	$2 160
regulation 150(3)	$144	$720
regulation 154	$720	$3 600
regulation 155(1) or (2)	$720	$3 600
regulation 159	$720	$3 600
regulation 160	$720	$3 600
regulation 165(1)	$432	$2 160
regulation 165(2)	$144	$720

of Part

This Part is repealed on the day after it commences.