48GFinancial hardship policies

48G Financial hardship policies S. 48G(1) substituted by No. 3/2014 s. 18(1). (1) A licence to sell gas is deemed to include a condition requiring the licensee to, within 3 months after being granted a licence— (a) prepare a policy to deal with domestic customers experiencing financial hardship; and (b) submit the policy for approval to the Commission under section 48I. S. 48G(2) repealed by No. 3/2014 s. 18(1). S. 48G(3) amended by No. 3/2014 s. 18(2). (3) A licence to sell gas is deemed to include a condition requiring the licensee to implement a financial hardship policy by the date specified in the financial hardship policy. S. 48G(4) amended by No. 3/2014 s. 18(3). (4) A term or condition in a contract for the supply or sale of gas by a licensee to a domestic customer is void to the extent that it is inconsistent with the financial hardship policy of the licensee. S. 48GA inserted by No. 3/2014 s. 19. 48GA Review of financial hardship policy at the direction of Commission (1) This section applies if the Commission is of the opinion that a financial hardship policy of a licensee requires review. (2) The Commission may direct the licensee to review the policy and, if necessary— (a) make variations so that the policy complies with section 48GC; or (b) replace the policy with a policy that complies with section 48GC. (3) On receiving a direction under subsection (2), a licensee must— (a) vary or replace the policy in accordance with any direction of the Commission; and (b) submit the amended financial hardship policy to the Commission for approval under section 48I. S. 48GB inserted by No. 3/2014 s. 19. 48GB Licensee may submit variation to, or replacement of, financial hardship policy for approval A licensee may submit to the Commission a variation to, or a replacement of, a financial hardship policy for approval under section 48I. S. 48GC inserted by No. 3/2014 s. 19. 48GC Content of financial hardship policies A policy submitted in accordance with section 48G(1), or an amended financial hardship policy submitted in accordance with section 48GA(3)(b) or 48GB, must include— (a) flexible payment options for payment of gas bills; and (b) provision for the auditing of a domestic customer's gas usage (whether wholly or partly at the expense of the licensee); and (c) flexible options for the purchase or supply of replacement gas appliances designed for domestic use from the licensee or a third party nominated by the licensee; and S. 48GC(d) amended by No. 37/2020 s. 18(a). (d) processes for the early response by both licensees and domestic customers to gas bill payment difficulties; and S. 48GC(e) inserted by No. 37/2020 s. 18(b). (e) any matter that a deemed Ministerial licence condition to which the licence held by the licensee is subject requires to be included in the policy or amended financial hardship policy, as the case requires. S. 48H inserted by No. 60/2006 s. 5.