Electricity Regulation 2006

This regulation may be cited as the Electricity Regulation 2006.

This regulation commences on 1 September 2006.

The dictionary in schedule 9 defines particular words used in this regulation.

The main purposes of this regulation are to—

ensure a secure, efficient and economic supply of electricity to customers on fair and reasonable terms; and

ensure customers’ interests are adequately protected; and

provide for the proper measurement of the energy efficiency and performance of electrical equipment; and

inform the public about the energy efficiency and performance of electrical equipment; and

prescribe particular conditions of employment for employees in the GOE industry.

The purposes of this regulation are to be achieved mainly by—

prescribing standards and procedures for the design, building and maintenance of electric lines and works; and

prescribing standards and procedures for measuring energy efficiency and the performance of electrical equipment; and

providing for the registration and labelling of electrical equipment; and

providing for continuity of service for leave purposes for employees transferring within the GOE industry; and

providing for long service leave and locality allowance entitlements for GOE industry employees; and

providing for award conditions and entitlements of employment for State electricity entities and their electricity industry employees.

Words and expressions used in the wiring rules have the same respective meanings in this regulation.

However, for this regulation, the expression ‘point of supply’ in the wiring rules has the same meaning as ‘consumers terminals’ has in this regulation.

An electrical article or appliance or type of electrical article or appliance may be described by reference to its model or in any other way.

This chapter does not apply to—

an electric line or works within the limits of a mine; or

petroleum plant.

In this section—

mine means—

a coal mine within the meaning of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999; or

a mine within the meaning of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999.

petroleum plant means private plant or an electrical installation, subject to inspection under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004.

private plant means generating plant not used by an electricity entity or special approval holder in accordance with an authority or special approval.

A person who designs, builds, maintains or operates an electric line or works must ensure the provisions of this part relevant to the line or works are complied with.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

The system of earthing used by an electricity entity for low voltage supply to customers must be the multiple earthed neutral system, or, if that system is not effective, another suitable system that complies with the wiring rules.

Electricity for general supply must be alternating current having a nominal frequency of 50Hz.

The standard voltage for the supply, before 27 October 2018, of electricity at low voltage from a 3-phase system is—

between a phase conductor and a neutral conductor—

the nominal voltage stated for the system in AS 60038; or

240V; and

between 2 phase conductors—

the nominal voltage stated for the system in AS 60038; or

415V.

The standard voltage for the supply, before 27 October 2018, of electricity at low voltage from a single phase system is—

between a phase conductor and a neutral conductor—

the nominal voltage stated for the system in AS 60038; or

240V; and

between the phase conductors—

the nominal voltage stated for the system in AS 60038; or

480V.

The standard voltage for the supply, on or after 27 October 2018, of electricity at low voltage from a 3-phase system or a single phase system is the nominal voltage stated for the system in AS 60038.

If an electricity entity agrees with a customer to supply electricity to the customer at high voltage, the agreed voltage is the standard voltage for the supply.