77General investigative powers of authorised officers

77 General investigative powers of authorised officers (1) An authorised officer who enters a place under this Part may exercise any one or more of the following powers: (a) investigate whether the provisions of this Act are being or have been complied with; (b) examine and test electricity infrastructure in the place to find out whether the infrastructure complies with the requirements of this Act; (d) investigate a suspected interference with electrical infrastructure or an electrical installation; (e) investigate a suspected theft or diversion of electricity;

Electricity Reform Act 2000 51 (f) search for, examine and copy or take an extract from a document or record of any kind as reasonably required for the purposes of the enforcement of this Act; (g) take photographs or make films or other records of activities in the place and electrical infrastructure, installations or equipment in the place; (h) take possession of any object that may be evidence of an offence against this Act. (2) If an authorised officer takes possession of an object that may be evidence of an offence: (a) the authorised officer must give the occupier of the place a receipt for the object; and (b) the object must be returned to its owner: (i) if proceedings for an offence are not commenced within 6 months after the authorised officer takes possession of the object – at the end of that period; or (ii) if proceedings are commenced within that period – on completion of the proceedings, unless the court, on application by the Utilities Commission, orders confiscation of the object. (3) A court may order the confiscation of an object of which an authorised officer has taken possession under subsection (1) if of the opinion that the object has been used for the purpose of committing an offence or there is some other proper reason for ordering its confiscation. (4) The Utilities Commission may dispose of an object if the Court orders its confiscation.