Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback Tuvalu Consolidated Legislation - 2008 Edition

Tuvalu Electricity Corporation Act - Electricity Regulations

LAWS OF TUVALU
2008 REVISED EDITION

CAP. 32.20.1

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS

Arrangement of Regulations
Regulation

1 Short title
2 Interpretation
3 Application for supply
4 Fixing and altering charges
5 Installation of coin meters
6 Authority may refuse to supply electricity
7 Liability for payment
8 Accuracy of meter
9 Electrical installation
10 Licensing of electricians
11 Approved contractor
12 Notice by approved contractor
13 Inspection and testing of electrical installation
14 Temporary supply
15 Meters and meter board
16 Mains switchboard
17 Motors and other apparatus
18 Offences

SCHEDULE
ELECTRICIAN'S "A" LICENCE
ELECTRICIAN'S INTERIM" A" LICENCE
ELECTRICIAN'S "B" LICENCE
ELECTRICIAN'S INTERIM "B" LICENCE

Supporting Documents
ENDNOTES

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS^[1]

1 Short title

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Electricity Regulations.

(2) These Regulations apply in all supply areas.

2 Interpretation

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

"approved contractor" means a firm, company or person approved by the Authority under regulation 11;

"electrical installation" includes all electrical wires, fittings, devices, appurtenances and attachments erected or maintained on or about a consumer's premises for the distribution and use of electricity.

3 Application for supply

(1) Any person who desires to be supplied with electricity shall deliver to the Authority an application on the form supplied by the Authority for that purpose, and shall, if so required by the Authority either on application or at any other time, deposit and maintain from time to time with the Authority a sum estimated by the Authority to be sufficient to secure all charges likely to be incurred by the applicant for or incidental to the supply of electricity to him for one month.

(2) The Authority may deduct from such deposit any amount from time to time owing by the consumer to the Authority for or in connection with the supply of electricity.

4 Fixing and altering charges

Subject to the approval of the Minister the Authority may from time to time fix and alter the charges for electricity supplied (including the rates for coin meters) and for meters and other electrical apparatus hired to consumers by the Authority, for the connection of a consumer's electrical installation to the mains supply and for the extension of the mains supply to connect with a consumer's electrical installation. Every such charge or alteration shall be published by means of a public notice published at every post office and the office of the district clerical officer of the district for the supply area concerned, and shall come into force on a date to be appointed in such public notice, being not less than one month after the date of publication of such public notice, and shall thereupon be binding upon each consumer unless and until he directs the Authority to cease to supply him with electricity:

Provided that the Authority may supply electricity to any consumer or class of consumers at special rates and, after not less than one month's notice to any such consumer, may from time to time vary such rates at his discretion.

5 Installation of coin meters

(1) The Authority may in its discretion connect to the electrical installation of any consumer a coin meter for the purpose of paying for electricity supplied to such consumer.

(2) Payment for electricity supplied to a consumer through a coin meter, shall be made by inserting into such meter coins of the denomination and at the rate fixed from time to time by the Authority under regulation 4.

(3) All coins inserted into any coin meter shall thereupon become the property of the Authority.

6 Authority may refuse to supply electricity

The Authority may refuse to supply electricity, or may discontinue the supply thereof —

(a) to any premises which in the opinion of the Authority are not suitably constructed or are unsound; or

(b) where in the opinion of the Authority such supply might endanger the supply of electricity to, or the safety of, other buildings on the same circuit, or the safety of such circuit, or cause interference with the works; or

(c) to any consumer who without prior notice or application installs or connects or causes to be installed or connected by any person, other than an approved contractor, any electrical installation or wiring:

Provided that an appliance consuming not more than 200 watts and which is designed and constructed to be connected to the electricity supply by means of a plug and to be affixed to an existing socket installed on the premises may be installed or connected by any person; or

(d) to any consumer who uses the supply in such a manner as to interfere with the efficiency of supply to other consumers; or

(e) to any consumer who refuses entry at reasonable hours to any person authorised in writing by the Authority to inspect, test, adjust, read or remove any meter of the consumer's installation or any electrical installation which is the property of the Authority or to collect and remove any coins from a coin meter connected to the consumer's installation; or

(f) to any consumer who defaults in paying any sum due to the Authority whether for electricity supply, meter rental or otherwise within one calendar month of the date of issue of the account requiring payment of that sum; or

(g) to any consumer whose service lines, installation or apparatus fail to comply with the standards required by the Authority; or

(h) to any consumer who interferes with or damages any apparatus belonging to the Authority; or

(i) where it is necessary to inspect, repair or test any electrical installation or work; or

(j) where supply of electricity would necessitate any alteration or addition to, or extension of the Authority's mains; or

(k) where in the opinion of the Authority insufficient generating capacity is available.

7 Liability for payment

Every consumer shall pay to the Authority within one month after the date of rendering of any account the charges prescribed therein by the Authority in respect of the quantity of electricity noted therein and for the hire of the meter or other apparatus (should such charge be applicable) for the period covered thereby and if any consumer fails to do so the Authority may cause the supply of electricity to be cut off from and not renewed to such consumer unless and until he pays the said charges and applies for a supply of electricity in the manner hereinbefore provided and pays a reconnection fee of $5:

Provided that this regulation shall not apply to a consumer to whose electrical installation a coin meter has been connected.

8 Accuracy of meter

(1) The register of any meter provided and fixed by the Authority on a consumer's premises shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of electricity supplied to such premises. Should the consumer dispute the accuracy of a meter, he may apply to the Authority to have the meter tested.

(2) All tests on meters shall be conducted by the Authority. The test of any meter shall be such as to show the errors in any registration for values of load up to the maximum rating of the meter.

(3) If the maximum error so found by the test exceeds 2½ per centum at unity power factor of the correct quantity the mean error shall be determined by the Authority, and this shall be used to correct the amount of electricity registered by the meter and disputed by the consumer and the consumer shall be charged with or credited with, as the case may require, the sum chargeable in respect of the amount of such excess or deficiency. In no case shall the period for which adjustments are made exceed a period of 3 months immediately preceding the date on which the consumer first disputed the accuracy of the meter.

(4) Should any meter cease to register, or be found to register so incorrectly that in the opinion of the Authority the error cannot be determined with reasonable accuracy, then the Authority shall make a fair and reasonable assessment of the charge to be paid. This shall be in respect of a period not exceeding 3 months prior to the date on which the registration of the meter was disputed or the date on which the meter was found to be defective, whichever was the earlier date.

(5) Where having tested a meter at the request of a consumer, the Authority is satisfied that the maximum error is less than 2½ per centum, the consumer shall pay a testing fee of $5.00.

9 Electrical installation

(1)

(a) Wiring methods and workmanship of any electrical installation or of any alteration of the same shall conform to the requirements of the Wiring Rules, Part I, of the Standards Association of Australia, as amended from time to time.

(b) Specifications for wire, cable, material, fittings, apparatus or appliances shall conform to the Wiring Rules, Part II, of the Standards Association of Australia, or to British Standard Specifications.

(2) The Authority may arrange for periodical inspections to be made of all electrical installations and appliances upon any consumer's premises.

(3) Every electrical installation shall be maintained by the consumer to comply with these Regulations.

(4) No person shall connect, and no consumer shall permit to be or to remain connected to any electrical installation, any wires, cable, fittings, apparatus, appliances or accessories which are declared to be unsafe by the Authority.

(5) No person shall connect any lamp, appliance, apparatus or device consuming more than 200 watts to any bayonet-cap lamp-holder.

10 Licensing of electricians

(1) No person shall supervise the work of running, laying, fixing or installing of wires, materials or apparatus for conveying, transmitting, controlling or using electricity supplied or to be supplied by the Authority unless he is the rightful holder of a valid electrician's "A" licence granted by the Authority under the provisions of these Regulations.

(2) No person shall carry out the work of running, laying, fixing or installing of wires, materials or apparatus for conveying, transmitting, controlling or using electricity supplied or to be supplied by the Authority unless, not being the holder of an "A" licence, he is the rightful holder of a valid electrician's "B" licence granted by the Authority under the provisions of these Regulations.

(3) Any person who wants to obtain from the Authority an electrician's licence shall apply to the Authority in writing, stating whether he is applying for an "A" or a "B" licence, and setting forth his qualifications and experience. The Authority, provided it is satisfied that the applicant has the necessary qualifications and experience, which may be determined by such tests or examinations as the Authority may think fit, may issue the applicant with the appropriate licence, which shall be in the form prescribed in the Schedule hereto. Such licences shall be purely personal and shall be valid for life, or until rescinded in the Authority's discretion:

Provided that the Authority may in its discretion issue the applicant with an interim licence, either "A" or " B", in the form prescribed in the Schedule hereto which shall be valid for the period stated thereon.

(4) Officers and servants of the Authority are exempt from the requirements of this regulation.

11 Approved contractor

(1) No person shall contract to run, lay, fix or install any wires, materials or apparatus for conveying, transmitting, controlling or using electricity unless he is an approved contractor.

(2) Any person who wishes to be an approved contractor for the purpose of these Regulations shall make application for approval to the Authority and shall furnish all particulars which the Authority may require. The Authority may in its discretion approve the contractor either generally or for a particular contract or refuse to approve him.

12 Notice by approved contractor

(1) Before commencing to run, lay, fix or install wire, materials or apparatus for conveying, transmitting, controlling or using electricity supplied or to be supplied by the Authority, the approved contractor undertaking the work shall lodge with the Authority a notice in writing stating the full particulars of the work to be done and apparatus to be connected and the premises in which the work will be executed, together with such plans and drawings as the Authority may require.

(2) On the completion of any work on any electrical installation the approved contractor responsible for the work shall lodge with the Authority a notice in writing, signed by such approved contractor and giving particulars of the number of lighting outlets, power outlets, motors and other apparatus installed, and any other particulars of the work done which the Authority may require.

13 Inspection and testing of electrical installation

(1) No electrical installation other than an appliance of the type described in the proviso to regulation 6(c) shall be connected to the Authority's electricity supply system until it has been inspected and tested by a person authorised by the Authority to ensure that it complies with the requirements of these Regulations

(2) No charge will be made for the first inspection and test of work done by an approved contractor, but if it should be found that the work does not comply with the requirements of these Regulations, a fee of $5 shall be paid to the Authority by the approved contractor concerned for each and every subsequent inspection and test. No person shall connect to the authority's electricity supply an appliance which has been found to be incompatible with the electricity supply or these regulations

(3) Any inspection and test is made for the protection of the Authority's supply system, and the connection of any work does not imply that it has been done in the best possible manner, and the Authority shall not be responsible should a defect subsequently be revealed in the installation.

14 Temporary supply

Under special circumstances, notwithstanding the provisions of these Regulations, the Authority may permit the connection of an electrical installation although one or more of the requirements of these Regulations have not been satisfied, provided that no such permission shall be granted unless the installation in the opinion of the Authority be reasonably free of electrical hazard for a limited time. Such permission shall be for a period not exceeding 3 months.

15 Meters and meter board

(1) Subject to the provisions of any special agreement the Authority shall supply and install one or more meters on the premises of each consumer, which the Authority may require to be housed in an approved fireproof meter box to be provided by the applicant for the supply concerned. A meter shall be installed in a position determined by the Authority, who in installing a coin meter shall take account of the convenience of the consumer in determining such position, and such meter shall be accessible to the Authority's officers at all times.

(2) The Authority shall affix to a building or structure in which electrical equipment is to be installed, a card marking the point of entry of the service wires. The mains entry box shall be installed at this point. The Authority shall provide and install fuses between the supply mains and the point of entry of the service wires to the consumer's premises. The service line will be provided and installed free to a maximum length of 60 feet from the nearest supply mains. The cost of any additional length of service line which the Authority considers necessary shall be borne by the applicant concerned, although the Authority may. where it appears reasonable waive in part or in whole, any costs incurred by a consumer under this regulation.

(3) Equipment provided and fixed by the Authority shall remain the property of the Authority. A consumer shall not in any way interfere with such equipment, but shall at all times report to the Authority any observed or apparent defects therein.

16 Mains switchboard

A switchboard shall be of a type approved by the Authority. The arrangement of wiring, accessories and instruments on a switchboard likewise shall be approved by the Authority.

17 Motors and other apparatus

(1) The starting current of electric motors shall be kept within such limits as the Authority may require.

(2) The Authority shall have the right to compel a consumer to improve his power factor to 0.8 lag at its discretion.

18 Offences

Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of regulations 9(3), (4) or (5), 10(1) or (2), 11(1), 12(1) or (2), 13(1), 16, 17(1) or (2) shall be liable to a fine of $100.

SCHEDULE

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS

(Regulation 10)

ELECTRICIAN'S "A" LICENCE

NO .........................

This licence entitles ........................................................................................................ of ..................................................................................................................................... to supervise or carry out electrical work subject to the provisions of the Electricity Act and the Electricity Regulations.

Dated this .........................day of ..................................................................., 20 ...........

Authority

.........................................................
Signature of Electrician:

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS

(Regulation 10)

ELECTRICIAN'S INTERIM" A" LICENCE

NO .........................

This licence entitles ........................................................................................................ of ..................................................................................................................................... to supervise or carry out electrical work subject to the provisions of the Electricity Act and the Electricity Regulations during the period from ..................................
to .........................................................................inclusive.

Dated this .........................day of ..................................................................., 20 ...........

Authority

.........................................................
Signature of Electrician:

(Regulation 10)

ELECTRICIAN'S "B" LICENCE

NO .........................

This licence entitles ........................................................................................................ of ..................................................................................................................................... to carry out electrical work subject to the provisions of the Electricity Act and the Electricity Regulations.

Dated this .........................day of ..................................................................., 20 ...........

Authority

.........................................................
Signature of Electrician:

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS

(Regulation 10)

ELECTRICIAN'S INTERIM "B" LICENCE

NO .........................

This licence entitles ........................................................................................................ of ..................................................................................................................................... to carry out electrical work subject to the provisions of the Electricity Act and the Electricity Regulations during the period from —
.................................................................. to ....................................................inclusive.

Authority

.........................................................
Signature of Electrician:

ENDNOTES
¹ LNs 43/1963, 8/1971, 6/1984, 6/1986, 5/1989
Made under the repealed Electricity Act but continued in force pursuant to section 32(2) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act