What it does
The Electricity Act 1994 establishes the overarching legal framework for the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Queensland. At its core, the Act sets objects under s.3 that include promoting an efficient, economical, and environmentally sound electricity supply and use; regulating the industry and electricity consumption; establishing a competitive market consistent with national reforms; protecting customer interests; and accounting for national competition policy.
The Act defines fundamental concepts in ch.1 pt.4. Electricity is broadly defined in s.5 to include electric current, energy, and related qualities. A transmission grid under s.6 is a system of lines, substations, and equipment connecting generation to supply networks or direct customers, including interconnections. A supply network per s.8 is a distribution system excluding transmission grids. Regional system control (s.7) and network control (s.9) cover operational coordination, maintenance, integrity, switching, and emergency demand reduction. Network services (s.10) and ancillary services (s.11) are delineated, with works, substations, and operating works detailed in s.12 (updated in 2024 by No.15 s.184 to include battery storage and reactive power devices).
Electrical equipment (s.13), installations (s.14), lines (s.15), associated equipment (s.16), meters (s.16A), and voltage (s.17) receive precise meanings, with exclusions for vehicle propulsion systems. The Act binds government entities only to the extent they are electricity entities, customers, or involved in restrictions/rationing or specific sections (s.18). It is subject to the Gladstone Power Station Agreement Act 1993 and Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 s.56 (s.19).
Exemptions are provided for on-suppliers complying with metering and reporting rules (ch.1 pt.6 div.1, ss.20–20O), standby generation testing (s.20P), rail and light rail entities (ss.20Q, 20QA), and emergency circumstances via regulation (s.20R, max penalty 50 penalty units).