Part 1Preliminary

Part 1—Preliminary 1—Short title These regulations may be cited as the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012. 3—Interpretation (1) In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears— Act means the Electricity Act 1996; active, in relation to a conductor, means— (a) any 1 of the conductors of a power system which is maintained at a difference of potential from— (i) the neutral conductor; or (ii) an earthed conductor; or (b) if a power system does not include a neutral or earthed conductor—all conductors; aerial line means a powerline placed above the ground and in the open air; AS or Australian Standard, followed by a number, or AS/NZS or Australian/New Zealand Standard followed by a number, is a reference to the standard published by Standards Australia as in force from time to time; centre‑line, in relation to an aerial line, means a notional vertical plane extending upwards from any point on the ground and running through, and connecting, the centre of each structure that supports the aerial line; circuit means any number of conductors connected together for the purpose of carrying current; conductor means a wire, or other form of conducting material suitable for carrying current, other than wires, cables or other metallic parts directly used in converting electrical energy into another form of energy; connection point means a connection point to a transmission or distribution network; facade mounted line means an aerial line attached to a building; high voltage or HV, in relation to electricity, means electricity at a voltage exceeding 1 000 volts alternating current (ac) or 1 500 volts direct current (dc); insulated means contained within a material or medium (including air) in order to limit the flow of current between conductors at different potentials; insulated conductor means a conductor that— (a) is wholly covered with insulating material in accordance with the appropriate requirements of the relevant Approval and Test specification of an Australian Standard; or (b) is of a type approved by the Technical Regulator; live—a term applied to an object when a difference of potential exists or would exist between it and earth under normal conditions of operation, including all metal connected to the neutral conductor of the supply system even if such neutral is earthed at the source of supply; but the following are not to be taken to be live: (a) earthing conductors; (b) copper sheaths of Mineral Insulated Metal Sheathed (MIMS) cables used in Earthed Sheathed Return (ESR) systems; (c) neutral busbars or links in installations where the multiple earthed neutral system is employed; low voltage or LV has the same meaning as in AS/NZS 3000; metering provider has the same meaning as in section 59(5) of the Act; multiple earthed neutral system or MEN system means a system of earthing in which the parts of an electrical installation required by AS/NZS 3000 to be earthed— (a) are connected to the general mass of earth; and (b) are connected within the installation to the neutral conductor of the supply system; nominal system voltage means the voltage by which a system of supply is designated and to which certain operating characteristics of that system of supply are referred in accordance with AS 2926 (as in force immediately before it was superseded); operator, in relation to a transmission or distribution network, any electricity infrastructure or any electrical installation, means the person who operates, owns or controls the network, infrastructure or installation; other cable system means— (a) telecommunication and control cables; or (b) aerial earthed cables; or (c) electrolysis drainage cables, attached to, or in the vicinity of, structures supporting cables under the control of an electricity entity; retail contract means a contract between an electricity entity and a customer for the sale and purchase of electricity; service line means the terminating span of a powerline— (a) constructed or designed or ordinarily used for the supply of electricity at low voltage; and (b) through which electricity is or is intended to be supplied by an electricity entity to a customer from the transmission or distribution network of the entity; substation means any premises or place (including a switchyard) in which high voltage supply is converted, controlled or transformed; technical installation rules of the operator of a transmission or distribution network, means the safety and technical requirements of the operator relating to electrical installations that must be complied with if electricity supply from the network is to be connected to the installations; U, in relation to voltage of electricity, means nominal system voltage; underground line means a powerline which is placed under the ground, including those portions which are erected above the ground. (2) A provision contained in a standard, code, guide or other document that is required to be complied with under these regulations is not, despite that requirement, to be taken to be a mandatory provision for the purposes of these regulations unless it is expressed in mandatory terms. (3) In subregulation (2), a reference to a standard, code, guide or other document includes a reference to a part of a standard, code, guide or other document. 4—Interpretation—definition of annual electricity consumption level (1) For the purposes of the definition of annual electricity consumption level in section 4 of the Act, the following provisions apply to the determination of a customer's annual electricity consumption level: (a) the customer's annual electricity consumption level is to be determined for each metered connection point through which the customer has or seeks electricity supply under a retail contract; (b) if the customer has been entitled under a retail contract to electricity supply through the connection point for the 12 months immediately preceding the relevant day, the customer's annual electricity consumption level for the connection point is— (i) the actual volume of the electricity supply, expressed in MW.h, through the connection point for that 12 month period as measured by the meter at the connection point; or (ii) if the measurement of the volume of electricity by the meter has been significantly affected by inaccuracies during that 12 month period—the estimated volume of the electricity supply, expressed in MW.h, through the connection point for the 12 months immediately following the relevant day; (c) if the customer has not been entitled under a retail contract to electricity supply through the connection point for the 12 months immediately preceding the relevant day, the customer's annual electricity consumption level for the connection point is the estimated volume of the electricity supply, expressed in MW.h, through the connection point for the 12 months immediately following the relevant day; (d) an estimate is to be made for the purposes of paragraph (b) or (c) taking into account relevant past electricity consumption levels, the electricity consumption level of plant and equipment to be powered through the connection point, the operations for which electricity is required to be supplied through the connection point and other relevant factors; (e) the determination of the actual or estimated volume of electricity supply through the connection point may be by agreement between the customer and the electricity entity or, failing such agreement, will be a matter for the decision of the Commission on application to the Commission by the customer or the entity; (f) a determination under this regulation of the customer's annual electricity consumption level for the connection point continues in operation from the relevant day until— (i) the customer ceases to be entitled to electricity supply through the connection point under a retail contract with the electricity entity; or (ii) a subsequent determination is made under this regulation of the customer's annual electricity consumption level for the connection point, whichever first occurs; (g) at least 12 months must elapse from the relevant day before a subsequent determination is made under this regulation of the customer's annual electricity consumption level for the connection point. the relevant day, in relation to the determination of the customer's annual electricity consumption level for the connection point, means— (a) the day on which the determination is made; or (b) if some earlier or later day is agreed to by the customer and the electricity entity, or is decided on by the Commission, as the relevant day for the purposes of the determination—that day. 5—Interpretation—definition of electrical installation (1) For the purposes of the definition of electrical installation in section 4 of the Act, each of the following is an electrical installation: (a) a set of wires and associated fittings, equipment and accessories installed for the conveyance, control, measurement or use of electricity for general power and lighting in a place used for electricity generating operations, or incidental or related operations; (b) a set of wires and associated fittings, equipment and accessories installed for the conveyance, control, measurement or use of electricity for general power and lighting in any place where electricity is supplied, or is to be supplied, for consumption in that place by a non‑recreational vehicle, recreational vehicle or relocatable unit; (c) a set of wires and associated fittings, equipment and accessories installed for the conveyance, control, measurement or use of electricity for general power and lighting in any place where electricity is supplied, or is to be supplied, for consumption in that place during a public event. motor vehicle has the same meaning as in the Motor Vehicles Act 1959; non‑recreational vehicle means a motor vehicle or trailer, other than a recreational vehicle, that has provision for, or is intended for, connection to a low voltage supply of electricity from an external source; public event means any carnival, concert, exhibition, fair, festival, game, parade, performance, show, sport or other event that is open to the public (whether on payment or free of charge); recreational vehicle means a caravan (including a pop‑up or fifth‑wheel caravan), camper van or trailer, motor home, slide‑on camper, tent trailer or other motor vehicle or trailer that is designed, adapted or converted for use as accommodation for recreational purposes and has provision for, or is intended for, connection to a low voltage supply of electricity from an external source; relocatable unit means a prefabricated building or structure that is designed for human occupation or use, can be relocated from one site to another and has provision for, or is intended for, connection to a low voltage supply of electricity from an external source; trailer has the same meaning as in the Motor Vehicles Act 1959. 6—Interpretation—definition of electricity infrastructure For the purposes of the definition of electricity infrastructure in section 4 of the Act, a set of wires and associated fittings, equipment and accessories installed for the conveyance, control, measurement or use of electricity for general power and lighting in a place used for electricity generating operations, or incidental or related operations, does not form part of electricity infrastructure. 7—Interpretation—definition of generation For the purposes of the definition of generation in section 4 of the Act, the operation of a set of wires and associated fittings, equipment and accessories installed for the conveyance, control, measurement or use of electricity for general power and lighting in a place used for electricity generating operations, or incidental or related to an electrical installation is not the generation of electricity. 8—Interpretation—definition of small customer For the purposes of the definition of small customer in section 4 of the Act, each customer whose annual electricity consumption level for a connection point is less than 160 MW.h is classified as a small customer in relation to electricity supply to the customer through the connection point. 9—Interpretation—definition of retailing For the purposes of the definition of the term in section 4 of the Act, retailing of electricity does not include the following activities: (a) a customer charging for the supply of electricity if the charge forms an unspecified part of rent or charges for the occupation or use of premises; (b) a holder of a licence authorising the operation of an electricity generating plant charging a fee for supplying electricity to another person who is the holder of a licence authorising the operation of a transmission or distribution network. 10—Interpretation—definition of electricity supply industry (1) For the purposes of the definition of electricity supply industry in section 4 of the Act, the following are operations of a prescribed kind: (a) the provision, operation or maintenance of poles, equipment, fittings or wiring associated with the provision of lighting in a street or other place; (b) operations conducted in relation to the Leigh Creek township, railway or mine by— (i) Flinders Power Pty Ltd (ACN 082 988 270); or (ii) NRGenerating Holdings (No. 2) GmbH (ARBN 094 284 723), Flinders Labuan (No. 1) Ltd (ARBN 094 284 812) and Flinders Labuan (No. 2) Ltd (ARBN 094 284 769), or a body related to any of those bodies. (2) Bodies are related for the purposes of this regulation if— (a) 1 takes over or otherwise acquires the business or part of the business of the other; or (b) they are related bodies corporate within the meaning of the Corporations Law; or (c) a series of relationships can be traced between them under paragraph (a) or (b). 11—Compliance with standards that are varied or substituted (1) Despite a requirement of these regulations for work to be carried out in accordance with a standard as in force from time to time, where the standard is varied or substituted, work for the installation, commissioning or modification of electricity infrastructure or an electrical installation may be carried out in accordance with the old standard— (a) if— (i) design work for that installation, commissioning or modification commenced before (but not more than 1 month before) the publication of the new standard and the work is to be completed within 1 year after that publication; or (ii) the work (disregarding design or other preparatory work) had commenced before the publication of the new standard and is to be completed within 1 year after that publication; or (iii) the work commenced after the publication of the new standard and is to be completed within 6 months after that publication; or (iv) the work is to be undertaken under a contract based on the old standard and entered into before the publication of the new standard and is to be completed within 1 year after that publication; or (v) the work is connected with the construction of premises and construction work had commenced before the publication of the new standard and is to be completed within 1 year after that publication; or (b) in any other case—with the approval of the Technical Regulator, on terms and conditions the Technical Regulator considers appropriate. (2) If— (a) pursuant to subregulation (1) work is purportedly carried out in accordance with an old standard; and (b) the work complies with that old standard, an approval or certification that the work complies with the standard may be given for the purposes of these regulations. (a) a reference to a standard includes a reference to— (i) a code, guide or other document; and (ii) a part of a standard, code, guide or other document; and (b) a standard as in force following the variation or substitution of the standard is referred to as the new standard; and (c) a standard as in force immediately prior to the variation or substitution of the standard is referred to as the old standard; and (d) a reference to work includes a reference to examinations and tests related to the work. (4) This regulation does not apply in relation to the National Electricity Rules or a code made by the Commission under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002. (5) This regulation does not apply in relation to regulations 55B to 55G (inclusive) or Part 10 Division 1A.