Electricity Supply Act 1995

The Minister may issue a Network Administration Order for a network operator’s distribution or transmission system if—

the network operator’s licence has been cancelled, or

the Minister is satisfied that the network operator has contravened a provision of this Act or the regulations or a condition of the network operator’s licence and the contravention requires the issue of a Network Administration Order.

A contravention by a network operator of a provision of this Act or the regulations or a condition of the network operator’s licence is considered to require the issue of a Network Administration Order only if the Minister is satisfied that—

the contravention threatens the safe, secure or reliable supply of electricity and it is necessary to take control of the distribution or transmission system concerned under such an Order to ensure the continued safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity, and

alternative action to remedy the contravention that could reasonably be taken by or at the direction of the Minister either would not adequately remedy the contravention or has been taken but has failed to adequately remedy the contravention.