{"id":"sr:gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022","name":"Gas Industry (Penalty Regime) Regulations 2022","slug":"gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181368,"registerId":"vic-sr:gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Gas Industry (Penalty Regime) Regulations 2022","content":"Version No. 003\n\n**Gas Industry (Penalty Regime) Regulations 2022**\n\n**S.R. No. 56/2022**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n8 October 2024\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objectives 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Definitions 1\n\n5 Prescribed civil penalty requirements 2\n\n6 Prescribed civil penalty amounts—tier 1 civil penalty requirements 3\n\n7 Prescribed civil penalty amounts—tier 2 civil penalty requirements 3\n\nSchedule 1—Prescribed civil penalty requirements—provisions of the Act 4\n\nSchedule 2—Prescribed civil penalty amounts 5\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 18\n\n1 General information 18\n\n2 Table of Amendments 20\n\n3 Explanatory details 21\n\n**Version No.** **003**\n\n**Gas Industry (Penalty Regime) Regulations 2022**\n\n**S.R. No. 56/2022**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n8 October 2024\n\n\t1 Objectives\n\nThe objectives of these Regulations are—\n\n(a) to prescribe provisions as civil penalty requirements for the purposes of the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001**; and\n\n(b) to prescribe amounts for contraventions of civil penalty requirements.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 236 of the **Gas Industry Act 2001**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 19 July 2022.\n\n\t4 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations⎯\n\n***civil penalty requirement*** has the same meaning as in section 3 of the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001**;\n\n***Energy Retail Code of Practice*** means the Code of Practice made under section 47(1) of the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001** and entitled \"Energy Retail Code of Practice\";\n\nReg. 4 def. of *Gas Distribution System Code of Practice* inserted by S.R. No. 84/2023 reg. 3, amended as *Gas Distribution Code of Practice* by S.R. No. 105/2024 reg. 3.\n\n***Gas Distribution Code of Practice*** means the Code of Practice made under section 47(1) of the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001** and entitled \"Gas Distribution Code of Practice\";\n\n***the Act*** means the **Gas Industry Act 2001**;\n\n***tier 1 civil penalty requirement*** means a civil penalty requirement specified in an item of Table 1 in Schedule 2;\n\n***tier 2 civil penalty requirement*** means a civil penalty requirement specified in an item of a Table 2 in Schedule 2.\n\n\t5 Prescribed civil penalty requirements\n\nA provision of the Act specified in Schedule 1 is prescribed as a civil penalty requirement for the purposes of the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001**.\n\n**Notes**\n\n1 The Act may also specify a provision of the Act as a civil penalty requirement for the purposes of the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001**.\n\n2 If a provision of the Act that was specified as a civil penalty requirement in the Act ceases to be specified as a civil penalty requirement in the Act, the provision is not a civil penalty requirement even if it is specified in Schedule 2, unless it is specified in Schedule 1.\n\n\t6 Prescribed civil penalty amounts—tier 1 civil penalty requirements\n\nFor the purposes of section 54E(c), (d), (g) and (i) of the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001**, the prescribed amount for a contravention of a tier 1 civil penalty requirement is an amount not exceeding 60 000 penalty units.\n\n**Notes**\n\n1 The civil penalty amount for a contravention of a civil penalty requirement that is not a tier 1 civil penalty requirement or a tier 2 civil penalty requirement is the amount specified in the Act or in the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001**.\n\n2 For persons other than licensees, the civil penalty amount for a contravention of a civil penalty requirement is the amount specified in the Act or in the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001**.\n\n\t7 Prescribed civil penalty amounts—tier 2 civil penalty requirements\n\nFor the purposes of section 54E(c), (d), (g) and (i) of the **Essential Services Commission Act 2001**, the prescribed amount for a contravention of a tier 2 civil penalty requirement is an amount not exceeding 8000 penalty units.\n\nSch. 1 substituted by S.R. No. 105/2024 reg. 4\n\nSchedule 1—Prescribed civil penalty requirements—provisions of the Act\n\nRegulation 5\n\n| *Column 1*<br>*Item No.* | *Column 2*<br>*Provision* |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. | Section 42(3A). |\n| 2. | Section 48DG(1). |\n| 3. | Section 48DI(1). |\n| 4. | Section 48DI(2). |\n| 5. | Section 48DI(3). |\n| 6. | Section 48DI(4). |\n| 7. | Section 48DJ(1). |\n| 8. | Section 48DJ(2). |\n| 9. | Section 48DK(1). |\n| 10. | Section 48DK(2). |\n| 11. | Section 48DL(1). |\n| 12. | Section 48DL(2). |\n| 13. | Section 48DL(3). |\n| 14. | Section 48DL(4). |\n| 15. | Section 48DL(5). |\n| 16. | Section 48DM(1). |\n| 17. | Section 48DM(2). |\n| 18. | Section 48DM(3). |\n| 19. | Section 48GA(3). |\n| 20. | Section 141(4). |\n| 21. | Section 148(3). |\n| 22. | Section 148(4). |\n\n\nSch. 2 amended by S.R. No. 84/2023 regs 4, 5, substituted by S.R. No. 105/2024 reg. 5.\n\nSchedule 2—Prescribed civil penalty amounts\n\nRegulations 6 and 7\n\n**Table 1—Tier 1 civil penalty requirements**\n\n| *Column 1*<br>*Item No.* | *Column 2*<br>*Provision* |\n| --- | --- |\n|  | **Gas Industry Act 2001** |\n| 1. | Section 42(3A). |\n| 2. | Section 48DG(1). |\n| 3. | Section 48DI(1). |\n| 4. | Section 48DI(2). |\n| 5. | Section 48DI(3). |\n| 6. | Section 48DI(4). |\n| 7. | Section 48DJ(1). |\n| 8. | Section 48DJ(2). |\n| 9. | Section 48DK(1). |\n| 10. | Section 48DK(2). |\n| 11. | Section 48DL(1). |\n| 12. | Section 48DL(2). |\n| 13. | Section 48DL(3). |\n| 14. | Section 48DL(4). |\n| 15. | Section 48DL(5). |\n| 16. | Section 48DM(1). |\n| 17. | Section 48DM(2). |\n| 18. | Section 48DM(3). |\n| 19. | Section 48GA(3). |\n|  | **Statutory licence conditions under the Gas Industry Act 2001** |\n| 20. | Section 33(1). |\n| 21. | Section 36(1). |\n| 22. | Section 42(1). |\n| 23. | Section 42C(1). |\n| 24. | Section 48A(1). |\n| 25. | Section 48DA(2). |\n| 26. | Section 48DB(1). |\n| 27. | Section 48G(1). |\n| 28. | Section 48G(3). |\n|  | **Orders made under the Gas Industry Act 2001** |\n| 29. | Section 20. |\n| 30. | Section 21(1). |\n| 31 | Section 48C(1). |\n| 32. | Section 48D(1). |\n|  | **Energy Retail Code of Practice** |\n| 33. | Clause 26(4). |\n| 34. | Clause 26(5). |\n| 35. | Clause 27(1). |\n| 36. | Clause 29(5). |\n| 37. | Clause 30(2). |\n| 38. | Clause 85(8). |\n| 39. | Clause 103(1). |\n| 40. | Clause 104(1). |\n| 41. | Clause 113(1). |\n| 42. | Clause 120(1). |\n| 43. | Clause 125(1). |\n| 44. | Clause 125(2). |\n| 45. | Clause 129(3). |\n| 46. | Clause 130(2). |\n| 47. | Clause 130(5). |\n| 48. | Clause 130(6). |\n| 49. | Clause 131(2). |\n| 50. | Clause 131(3). |\n| 51. | Clause 132(1). |\n| 52. | Clause 135(1). |\n| 53. | Clause 138(1). |\n| 54. | Clause 138(2). |\n| 55. | Clause 138(3). |\n| 56. | Clause 139(1). |\n| 57. | Clause 139(2). |\n| 58. | Clause 139(5). |\n| 59. | Clause 141(1). |\n| 60. | Clause 143(1). |\n| 61. | Clause 144(1). |\n| 62. | Clause 144(2). |\n| 63. | Clause 144(3). |\n| 64. | Clause 145(1). |\n| 65. | Clause 146(2). |\n| 66. | Clause 146(3). |\n| 67. | Clause 146(4). |\n| 68. | Clause 146(5). |\n| 69. | Clause 146(6). |\n| 70. | Clause 146(7). |\n| 71. | Clause 146(8). |\n| 72. | Clause 149(1). |\n| 73. | Clause 150(1). |\n| 74. | Clause 150(4). |\n| 75. | Clause 150(6). |\n| 76. | Clause 151(1). |\n| 77. | Clause 152(1). |\n| 78. | Clause 153(1). |\n| 79. | Clause 154(1). |\n| 80. | Clause 154(2). |\n| 81. | Clause 155(1). |\n| 82. | Clause 157(1). |\n| 83. | Clause 158(1). |\n| 84. | Clause 159(1). |\n| 85. | Clause 160(1). |\n| 86. | Clause 160(2). |\n| 87. | Clause 164(1). |\n| 88. | Clause 164(2). |\n| 89. | Clause 165(1). |\n| 90. | Clause 165(2). |\n| 91. | Clause 167(1). |\n| 92. | Clause 182(4). |\n| 93. | Clause 191(1). |\n| 94. | Clause 192(1). |\n| 95. | Clause 193(1). |\n|  | **Gas Distribution Code of Practice** |\n| 96. | Clause 3.1. |\n| 97. | Clause 3.3. |\n| 98. | Clause 3.4.1. |\n| 99. | Clause 3.4.9. |\n| 100. | Clause 3.5.1. |\n| 101. | Clause 3.5.2. |\n| 102. | Clause 3.5.4. |\n| 103. | Clause 3.7.1. |\n| 104. | Clause 3.7.2. |\n| 105. | Clause 3.7.3. |\n| 106. | Clause 3.7.4. |\n| 107. | Clause 3.7.5. |\n| 108. | Clause 3.7.6(b). |\n| 109. | Clause 3.7.6(c). |\n| 110. | Clause 3.7.6(d). |\n| 111. | Clause 3.7.6(e). |\n| 112. | Clause 3.7.6(f). |\n| 113. | Clause 3.7.7. |\n| 114. | Clause 3.7.8. |\n| 115. | Clause 3.7.9. |\n| 116. | Clause 3.7.10. |\n| 117. | Clause 4.1.1. |\n| 118. | Clause 4.1.3. |\n| 119. | Clause 4.1.4. |\n| 120. | Clause 4.2.1. |\n| 121. | Clause 4.2.3. |\n| 122. | Clause 4.2.5(a). |\n| 123. | Clause 4.2.5(c). |\n| 124. | Clause 4.4.1. |\n| 125. | Clause 5.1(a). |\n| 126. | Clause 5.1(b). |\n| 127. | Clause 5.1(c). |\n| 128. | Clause 5.1(d). |\n| 129. | Clause 5.1(e). |\n| 130. | Clause 5.1(f). |\n| 131. | Clause 5.2. |\n| 132. | Clause 5.3. |\n| 133. | Clause 5.4. |\n| 134. | Clause 5.5. |\n| 135. | Clause 5.6.1. |\n| 136. | Clause 5.6.2. |\n| 137. | Clause 5.7.1. |\n| 138. | Clause 5.7.2. |\n| 139. | Clause 5.7.3. |\n| 140. | Clause 6.1.1(a). |\n| 141. | Clause 6.1.1(b). |\n| 142. | Clause 6.1.1(c). |\n| 143. | Clause 6.1.1(d). |\n| 144. | Clause 6.1.1(e). |\n| 145. | Clause 6.1.2. |\n| 146. | Clause 6.1.3. |\n| 147. | Clause 6.1.4. |\n| 148. | Clause 6.2.1. |\n| 149. | Clause 6.2.2. |\n| 150. | Clause 6.3.1. |\n| 151. | Clause 6.3.3. |\n| 152. | Clause 7.3. |\n| 153. | Clause 7.4. |\n| 154. | Clause 7.6.1. |\n| 155. | Clause 7.7.1. |\n| 156. | Clause 7.7.2. |\n| 157. | Clause 7.8.1. |\n| 158. | Clause 7.8.2. |\n| 159. | Clause 7.8.3. |\n| 160. | Clause 7.11(e). |\n| 161. | Clause 7.13. |\n| 162. | Clause 9.1.1. |\n| 163. | Clause 9.1.3. |\n| 164. | Clause 9.2. |\n| 165. | Clause 12.1.1. |\n| 166. | Clause 12.1.2. |\n| 167. | Clause 13.2.1. |\n| 168. | Clause 13.3. |\n\n\n**Table 2—Tier 2 civil penalty requirements**\n\n| *Column 1*<br>*Item No.* | *Column 2*<br>*Provision* |\n| --- | --- |\n|  | **Statutory licence conditions under the Gas Industry Act 2001** |\n| 1. | Section 42A. |\n| 2. | Section 42D(1). |\n| 3. | Section 43A(1). |\n| 4. | Section 48C(1AA). |\n|  | **Energy Retail Code of Practice** |\n| 5. | Clause 8(1). |\n| 6. | Clause 8(2). |\n| 7. | Clause 12(1). |\n| 8. | Clause 13(1). |\n| 9. | Clause 13(2). |\n| 10. | Clause 13(3). |\n| 11. | Clause 13(4). |\n| 12. | Clause 14(1). |\n| 13. | Clause 16(1). |\n| 14. | Clause 16(2). |\n| 15. | Clause 16(3). |\n| 16. | Clause 24(1). |\n| 17. | Clause 26(2)(b). |\n| 18. | Clause 26(3)(a). |\n| 19. | Clause 26(3)(b). |\n| 20. | Clause 30(1). |\n| 21. | Clause 31(1). |\n| 22. | Clause 33(1). |\n| 23. | Clause 38(1). |\n| 24. | Clause 38(2). |\n| 25. | Clause 38(3). |\n| 26. | Clause 38(6). |\n| 27. | Clause 39(1). |\n| 28. | Clause 39(2). |\n| 29. | Clause 39(3). |\n| 30. | Clause 39(4). |\n| 31. | Clause 39(5). |\n| 32. | Clause 40(1). |\n| 33. | Clause 40(3). |\n| 34. | Clause 40(4). |\n| 35. | Clause 40(5). |\n| 36. | Clause 40(6). |\n| 37. | Clause 40(7). |\n| 38. | Clause 40(8). |\n| 39. | Clause 40(9). |\n| 40. | Clause 40(10). |\n| 41. | Clause 40(11). |\n| 42. | Clause 40(12). |\n| 43. | Clause 41(1). |\n| 44. | Clause 41(2). |\n| 45. | Clause 44(1). |\n| 46. | Clause 45(1). |\n| 47. | Clause 46(3). |\n| 48. | Clause 47(2). |\n| 49. | Clause 48(1). |\n| 50. | Clause 48(2). |\n| 51. | Clause 50(1). |\n| 52. | Clause 50(2). |\n| 53. | Clause 51(2). |\n| 54. | Clause 51(5). |\n| 55. | Clause 52(1). |\n| 56. | Clause 53(1). |\n| 57. | Clause 54(1). |\n| 58. | Clause 54(3). |\n| 59. | Clause 57(1)(b). |\n| 60. | Clause 57(2). |\n| 61. | Clause 59(1). |\n| 62. | Clause 59(4). |\n| 63. | Clause 59(6). |\n| 64. | Clause 59(7). |\n| 65. | Clause 59(8). |\n| 66. | Clause 59(10). |\n| 67. | Clause 59(11). |\n| 68. | Clause 59(12). |\n| 69. | Clause 59(13). |\n| 70. | Clause 59(14). |\n| 71. | Clause 60(1). |\n| 72. | Clause 62(1). |\n| 73. | Clause 63(1). |\n| 74. | Clause 65(1). |\n| 75. | Clause 66(1). |\n| 76. | Clause 69(1). |\n| 77. | Clause 69(2). |\n| 78. | Clause 69(3). |\n| 79. | Clause 69(5)(a). |\n| 80. | Clause 69(7)(b). |\n| 81. | Clause 69(8). |\n| 82. | Clause 70(2)(a). |\n| 83. | Clause 70(2)(b). |\n| 84. | Clause 70(2)(c). |\n| 85. | Clause 70(2)(d). |\n| 86. | Clause 70(3). |\n| 87. | Clause 71(1). |\n| 88. | Clause 71(2). |\n| 89. | Clause 71(3). |\n| 90. | Clause 72(1). |\n| 91. | Clause 72(3). |\n| 92. | Clause 72(4). |\n| 93. | Clause 72(5). |\n| 94. | Clause 75(2). |\n| 95. | Clause 75(3). |\n| 96. | Clause 75(4). |\n| 97. | Clause 76(1). |\n| 98. | Clause 77(1)(b). |\n| 99. | Clause 81(1). |\n| 100. | Clause 82(1). |\n| 101. | Clause 84(1). |\n| 102. | Clause 85(1). |\n| 103. | Clause 85(2). |\n| 104. | Clause 85(3). |\n| 105. | Clause 85(4). |\n| 106. | Clause 85(5). |\n| 107. | Clause 85(6). |\n| 108. | Clause 86(3). |\n| 109. | Clause 87(1). |\n| 110. | Clause 88(1). |\n| 111. | Clause 89(1). |\n| 112. | Clause 89(2). |\n| 113. | Clause 89(3). |\n| 114. | Clause 90(1). |\n| 115. | Clause 90(2). |\n| 116. | Clause 92(2). |\n| 117. | Clause 92(3). |\n| 118. | Clause 92(4). |\n| 119. | Clause 92(5). |\n| 120. | Clause 93(1). |\n| 121. | Clause 94(2). |\n| 122. | Clause 94(4). |\n| 123. | Clause 95(1). |\n| 124. | Clause 96(1). |\n| 125. | Clause 97(5). |\n| 126. | Clause 97(6). |\n| 127. | Clause 98(1). |\n| 128. | Clause 98(2). |\n| 129. | Clause 98(3). |\n| 130. | Clause 99(1). |\n| 131. | Clause 100(2). |\n| 132. | Clause 102(1). |\n| 133. | Clause 102(2). |\n| 134. | Clause 106(1). |\n| 135. | Clause 108(1). |\n| 136. | Clause 108(3). |\n| 137. | Clause 109(1). |\n| 138. | Clause 110(1). |\n| 139. | Clause 110(2). |\n| 140. | Clause 110(3). |\n| 141. | Clause 110(4). |\n| 142. | Clause 112(1). |\n| 143. | Clause 112(2). |\n| 144. | Clause 114(1). |\n| 145. | Clause 115(1). |\n| 146. | Clause 119(1). |\n| 147. | Clause 119(2). |\n| 148. | Clause 119(3). |\n| 149. | Clause 119(4). |\n| 150. | Clause 119(5). |\n| 151. | Clause 176(2). |\n| 152. | Clause 176(4). |\n|  | **Gas Distribution Code of Practice** |\n| 153. | Clause 3.2.2. |\n| 154. | Clause 3.4.6. |\n| 155. | Clause 3.4.7. |\n| 156. | Clause 4.1.5. |\n| 157. | Clause 4.3.1. |\n| 158. | Clause 6.4.1. |\n| 159. | Clause 6.4.2. |\n| 160. | Clause 6.4.3. |\n| 161. | Clause 6.4.4. |\n| 162. | Clause 6.4.5. |\n| 163. | Clause 9.1.4. |\n| 164. | Clause 9.3.2. |\n| 165. | Clause 10.1.1. |\n| 166. | Clause 10.1.2. |\n| 167. | Clause 10.1.3. |\n| 168. | Clause 10.1.4. |\n| 169. | Clause 12.1.3. |\n| 170. | Clause 12.1.4. |\n\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Gas Industry (Penalty Regime) Regulations 2022, S.R. No. 56/2022 were made on 19 July 2022 by the Governor in Council under section 236 of the **Gas Industry Act 2001**, No. 31/2001 and came into operation on 19 July 2022: regulation 3.\n\nThe Gas Industry (Penalty Regime) Regulations 2022 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 19 July 2032 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the Gas Industry (Penalty Regime) Regulations 2022 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\nGas Industry (Penalty Regime) Amendment Regulations 2023, S.R. No. 84/2023\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 15.8.23 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 15.8.23 |\n\n\nGas Industry (Penalty Regime) Amendment Regulations 2024, S.R. No. 105/2024\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 8.10.24 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 8.10.24 |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\n**Penalty Units**\n\nThese Regulations provide for penalties by reference to penalty units within the meaning of section 110 of the **Sentencing Act 1991**. The amount of the penalty is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**, by multiplying the number of penalty units applicable by the value of a penalty unit.\n\nThe value of a penalty unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2024 is $197.59. The amount of the calculated penalty may be rounded to the nearest dollar.\n\nThe value of a penalty unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The value of a penalty unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The scope has been changed by later statutory rules: Schedule 1 was substituted by S.R. No. 105/2024 (reg. 4) and Schedule 2 was amended by S.R. No. 84/2023 (regs 4–5) and then substituted by S.R. No. 105/2024 (reg. 5). Those amendments alter which Act provisions, licence conditions and Code clauses are prescribed as civil penalty requirements and their tier assignments."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross‑referencing to multiple statutes and instruments: Gas Industry Act 2001, Essential Services Commission Act 2001, Sentencing Act 1991 and Monetary Units Act 2004 (regs 2, 5–7; Explanatory details).","Large schedules enumerating many specific Act sections, statutory licence conditions, Code clauses and Code of Practice clauses (Schedules 1 and 2 contain ~170+ items).","Two‑tier penalty structure with different maximums (reg 6 and reg 7) and special notes limiting application for non‑licensees (reg 6 note 2).","Reliance on external definitions and instruments (definitions in reg 4; Codes made under the Essential Services Commission Act).","Amendment history and substitutions across multiple statutory rules (S.R. No. 84/2023; S.R. No. 105/2024) which change which provisions are captured (reg 4 notes; Sch.1 and Sch.2 notes).","Penalty amounts expressed in penalty units, requiring application of monetary conversion rules and future Treasurer determinations (Explanatory details referencing Sentencing Act 1991 and Monetary Units Act 2004).","Sunset and commencement mechanics and interpretative notes that affect how the instrument operates and is read (reg 3; Endnotes)."],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations prescribe which provisions of the Gas Industry Act, statutory licence conditions and provisions of the Energy Retail and Gas Distribution Codes are civil‑penalty requirements, and set maximum monetary limits for contraventions: up to 60,000 penalty units for tier 1 breaches and up to 8,000 penalty units for tier 2 breaches. They apply to gas licence‑holders and other persons subject to those provisions, with actual penalty amounts calculated using the penalty‑unit rules in other Acts."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose of prescribing civil penalty requirements and amounts for the gas industry. While the schedules have expanded through amendments (adding the Gas Distribution Code of Practice in 2023 and expanding provisions in 2024), this represents the natural growth of the penalty regime to cover additional industry obligations rather than mission creep. The core mechanism — listing provisions from other instruments and assigning penalty tiers — has remained consistent since commencement."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-referencing: The regulations don't contain the actual rules being penalised — they simply point to provisions in the Gas Industry Act 2001, the Energy Retail Code of Practice, and the Gas Distribution Code of Practice (168 separate provisions listed across two schedules)","Dual-tier penalty structure creates conditional logic: Must determine whether a breach falls into Tier 1 (60,000 units) or Tier 2 (8,000 units) based on which schedule/table the provision appears in","Dependency on external documents: Full understanding requires access to three separate legislative instruments (the Act and two Codes of Practice) which are not reproduced in the regulations","Penalty unit calculation adds a layer of indirection: Penalties are expressed in 'penalty units' requiring conversion via the Monetary Units Act 2004 (currently $197.59 per unit)","Amendment history embedded in text: Multiple version notes and amendment tracking (e.g., 'inserted by S.R. No. 84/2023') clutter the reading experience though they don't affect substantive operation"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out the fines (called 'civil penalties') that gas companies must pay if they break certain rules in Victoria.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Creates a list of specific rules from the **Gas Industry Act 2001** and two industry codes (the Energy Retail Code and Gas Distribution Code) that are designated as 'civil penalty requirements' — meaning if a company breaks these rules, they can be fined through the courts.\n- Sets two levels of maximum fines:\n  - **Tier 1**: Up to 60,000 penalty units (roughly $11.8 million based on current values) for serious breaches\n  - **Tier 2**: Up to 8,000 penalty units (roughly $1.6 million) for less serious breaches\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Gas retailers (companies that sell gas to homes and businesses)\n- Gas distribution companies (companies that own the pipes that deliver gas)\n- The Essential Services Commission (the regulator that enforces these rules)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis gives the regulator real teeth to punish companies that mistreat customers, fail to maintain infrastructure, or breach their licence conditions. Instead of just issuing warnings, the Commission can take companies to court and seek substantial financial penalties. The two-tier system means serious safety or consumer harm issues attract much higher fines than paperwork or procedural failures."},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available text, the regulation appears to serve its stated purpose of establishing a penalty regime for the gas industry. There is insufficient substantive content in the provided document to identify any scope creep or deviation from original intent. The title and structure are consistent with a focused, narrow instrument designed to set penalties rather than regulate broader industry conduct."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely limited substantive text provided — mostly metadata and version history with no actual penalty provisions visible","Operates as a subordinate instrument (regulations made under a parent Act), requiring cross-reference to the enabling Gas Industry Act to understand full context","Penalty regime regulations typically involve technical definitions of breaches and tiered penalty units that require interpretation","Victorian-specific legislative framework may differ from other Australian jurisdictions, adding jurisdictional complexity for those unfamiliar with Victorian law"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation provides a clear penalty framework for Victoria’s gas industry, setting out the financial consequences for businesses and individuals who breach gas-industry rules. It primarily affects gas companies, distributors and supply-chain businesses and strengthens enforcement of existing gas laws to promote compliance and safety. Note: the supplied document contains mainly version-history metadata, so specific penalty amounts or targeted conduct aren’t available here."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022","history":"/api/acts/gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022/history","analysis":"/api/acts/gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/gas-industry-penalty-regime-regulations-2022/documents"}}