Electricity Legislation (Competition in Metering) Amendment Regulation 2018


Queensland Crest

Part 1 Preliminary

1Short title

This regulation may be cited as the Electricity Legislation (Competition in Metering) Amendment Regulation 2018.

Part 2 Amendment of Electricity Regulation 2006

3Regulation amended

This part amends the Electricity Regulation 2006.

4Amendment of ch 3, pt 1, hdg (Distribution entities)

Chapter 3, part 1, heading, after ‘entities’—
insert

and metering coordinators

5Replacement of s 39 (Who is the responsible person)

Section 39—
omit, insert

39Who is the metering coordinator

In this division, the metering coordinator is the person who, under the National Electricity Rules or a distribution network code, is the party responsible for the metering installation for the premises.

6Amendment of s 40 (Customer to change electrical installation for meter connection)

(1)Section 40, ‘responsible person’—
omit, insert

metering coordinator

(2)Section 40—
insert
(2)Subsection (1) does not apply if—
(a)the meter is a replacement meter proposed to be installed as part of a new meter deployment by the metering coordinator and the customer has opted out of the new meter deployment under the National Energy Retail Rules, rule 59A; or
(b)the meter is part of a new or replacement type 4 metering installation proposed to be installed by the metering coordinator and the customer has communicated the customer’s refusal of the installation under the National Electricity Rules, rule 7.8.4(e).
(3)In this section—
new meter deployment has the meaning given by the National Energy Retail Rules.
type 4 metering installation has the meaning given by the National Electricity Rules.

7Amendment of s 41 (Customer to provide links connecting meter to incoming supply)

Section 41(1) and (3), ‘responsible person’—
omit, insert

metering coordinator

8Amendment of s 42 (No breaking or interfering with meter seal)

Section 42, ‘responsible person’—
omit, insert

metering coordinator

9Amendment of s 43 (No breaking or interfering with control apparatus seal)

(1)Section 43, heading, ‘control apparatus’—
omit, insert

network device

(2)Section 43(1), ‘control apparatus’—
omit, insert

a network device

(3)Section 43(1), ‘the apparatus’—
omit, insert

the device

10Amendment of s 44 (Placing meter or control apparatus on customer’s premises)

(1)Section 44(1) and heading, ‘control apparatus’—
omit, insert

network device

(2)Section 44(1)(a) and (2)(a), ‘responsible person’—
omit, insert

metering coordinator

(3)Section 44(2)(b), ‘control apparatus’—
omit, insert

a network device

11Amendment of s 45 (Change of placement if building changes or works)

(1)Section 45(1), ‘control apparatus’—
omit, insert

a network device

(2)Section 45(2)(a)(i) and (b)(i), ‘responsible person’—
omit, insert

metering coordinator

(3)Section 45(2)(a)(ii) and (b)(ii), ‘control apparatus’—
omit, insert

the network device

12Amendment of s 46 (Customers to provide safe access)

Section 46(1)(a), ‘or the responsible person’—
omit, insert

, the metering coordinator or the customer’s retailer

13Amendment of sch 9 (Dictionary)

(1)Schedule 9, definition responsible person
omit.
(2)Schedule 9—
insert
metering coordinator, for chapter 3, part 1, division 2, see section 39.
network device has the meaning given in the National Electricity Rules.

Part 3 Amendment of National Energy Retail Law (Queensland) Regulation 2014

14Regulation amended

This part amends the National Energy Retail Law (Queensland) Regulation 2014.

15Amendment of sch 3, cl 5 (Scope of this contract)

(1)Schedule 3, clause 5.1(a), after ‘laws’—
insert

, including, where we sell you electricity, the provision, installation and maintenance of your meter

(2)Schedule 3, clause 5.2, ‘metering equipment and’—
omit.

16Amendment of sch 3, cl 6 (Your general obligations)

(1)Schedule 3, clause 6.2, from ‘if’—
omit, insert

if—

(a)information you have provided to us changes; or
(b)you are aware of any change that materially affects access to your meter or to other equipment involved in providing metering services to your premises.

(2)Schedule 3, clause 6.3—
insert
(ba)If the premises are registered as having life support equipment, we must give you—
(i)general advice that there may be a retailer planned interruption to the supply of electricity at the premises; and
(ii)at least 4 business days notice in writing of any retailer planned interruption to the supply of electricity to the premises; and
(iii)an emergency telephone contact number.
(3)Schedule 3, clause 6.3(ba) to (e)—
renumber as schedule 3, clause 6.3(c) to (f).

17Amendment of sch 3, cl 11 (Card-operated meters)

Schedule 3, clause 11, paragraphs (a) and (b)—
omit, insert
(a)You must allow us and our authorised representatives safe and unhindered access to your premises for the following purposes, if relevant—
(i)reading, testing, maintaining, inspecting or altering a card-operated meter at the premises;
(ii)adjusting your card-operated meter to reflect changes to the standing offer prices;
(iii)calculating or measuring energy supplied or taken at the premises;
(iv)checking the accuracy of metered consumption at the premises;
(v)replacing a card-operated meter.
(b)We will use our best endeavours to ensure that activities mentioned in paragraph (a) are carried out as frequently as is needed, consistently with changes to the standing offer prices and the metering rules, and in any event at least once every 12 months.
(c)If we or our authorised representatives seek access to the premises under paragraph (a), we will—
(i)comply with the energy laws; and
(ii)carry or wear official identification; and
(iii)show you the identification if requested.

18Insertion of new sch 3, cl 11A

Schedule 3
insert

11AInterruption to electricity supply

11A.1
Retailer may arrange retailer planned interruptions (maintenance, repair, etc.)
(a)We may arrange retailer planned interruptions to the supply of electricity to your premises where permitted under the energy laws for the purpose of the installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of your electricity meter.
(b)If your electricity supply will be affected by a retailer planned interruption arranged by us, we will give you at least 4 business days notice by mail, letterbox drop, press advertisement or other appropriate means.
11A.2Application of these terms and conditions
(a)If you request us to do so, we will use our best endeavours to explain a retailer planned interruption to the supply of electricity to the premises that was arranged by us.
(b)If you request an explanation in writing we must, within 10 business days of receiving the request, give you either—
(i)the written explanation; or
(ii)an estimate of the time it will take to provide a more detailed explanation if a longer period is reasonably needed.
(c)For interruptions made by your distributor, we may refer you to your distributor to provide information.

19Amendment of sch 3, cl 15 (Disconnection of supply)

(1)Schedule 3, clause 15.1, after ‘access to your premises’—
insert

as required by clause 11 or any requirements under the energy laws

(2)Schedule 3, clause 15.2, after ‘Rules.’—
insert

In relation to safe and unhindered access, in addition to any warning notice, we must use our best endeavours to contact you to arrange an appointment with you for access to your premises.

20Amendment of sch 3, cl 16 (Reconnection after disconnection)

Schedule 3, clause 16, ‘request your distributor to reconnect’—
omit, insert

arrange for the reconnection of

21Amendment of sch 3, cl 24 (Simplified explanation of terms)

Schedule 3, clause 24—
insert
interruption means a temporary unavailability or temporary curtailment of the supply of electricity from a distribution system to a customer, but does not include disconnection.
retailer planned interruption means an interruption that—
(a)is for the purposes of the installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of your electricity meter; and
(b)does not involve the distributor effecting the interruption; and
(c)is not an interruption that has been planned by your distributor.

22Amendment of sch 4, cl 6 (Your general obligations)

(1)Schedule 4, clause 6.4(c)(i), ‘planned’—
omit, insert

distributor planned interruption

(2)Schedule 4, clause 6.4(c)(ii), after ‘any’—
insert

distributor

23Amendment of sch 4, cl 10 (Interruption to supply)

(1)Schedule 4, clauses 10.1 and 10.2(a) and (b), before ‘planned’—
insert

distributor

(2)Schedule 4, clause 10.2, heading, ‘Planned’—
omit, insert

Distributor planned

(3)Schedule 4, clause 10.4—
insert
(c)For a retailer planned interruption arranged by your retailer, we may refer you to your retailer to provide information.

24Amendment of sch 4, cl 20 (Simplified explanation of terms)

Schedule 4, clause 20—
insert
distributor planned interruption means an interruption of the supply of energy for—
(a)the planned maintenance, repair or augmentation of the transmission system; or
(b)the planned maintenance, repair or augmentation of the distribution system, including planned or routine maintenance of a meter (excluding a retailer planned interruption); or
(c)the installation of a new connection or a connection alteration.
retailer planned interruption means an interruption that—
(a)is for the purposes of the installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of a meter; and
(b)does not involve the distributor effecting the interruption; and
(c)is not a distributor planned interruption.

25Amendment of sch 5, s 2 (Rule 3)

(1)Schedule 5, section 2, ‘and responsible person’—
omit, insert

and metering coordinator

(2)Schedule 5, section 2, ‘responsible person’, second mention—
omit, insert

metering coordinator

26Amendment of sch 5, s 4 (New rule 90A)

Schedule 5, section 4, inserted rule 90A, before ‘planned’—
insert

distributor

27Insertion of new sch 5, s 4A

Schedule 5
insert

4ARule 101

Rule 101—
insert
(1A)The requirement in subrule (1) to respond to an inquiry or complaint about the customer’s electricity meter does not apply to a distributor for electricity for the parts of the distribution system operated by Ergon Energy Distribution that do not form part of the national grid.

28Amendment of sch 5, s 5 (Schedule 2, item 10.2)

(1)Schedule 5, section 5, inserted item 10.2, heading, ‘Planned’—
omit, insert

Distributor planned

(2)Schedule 5, section 5, inserted item 10.2(a) and (b), before ‘planned’—
insert

distributor

29Insertion of new sch 5, s 5A

Schedule 5, part 3
insert

5ARule 3

Rule 3, definition metering coordinator
omit, insert
metering coordinator
(a)for electricity for the parts of the distribution system operated by Ergon Energy Distribution that do not form part of the national grid—has the meaning given in the Distribution Network Code applying to Ergon Energy Distribution; or
(b)for electricity not mentioned in paragraph (a)—has the meaning given in the NER, chapter 10.

30Amendment of sch 5, s 7 (Rule 29)

Schedule 5, section 7, inserted rule 29(5A)(b), ‘responsible person’—
omit, insert

metering coordinator

31Insertion of new sch 5, s 12A

Schedule 5
insert

12ARule 99A

Rule 99A(2), ‘NMI’—
omit, insert

meter identifier