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Code of Conduct for the Supply of Electricity to Small Use Customers
The Code of Conduct for the Supply of Electricity to Small Use Customers (the “Code of Conduct”) regulates and controls the conduct of retailers, distributors and electricity marketing agents.
The Code of Conduct protects the interests of customers who generally have little or no market power. For this reason, the Code of Conduct only applies to customers who consume no more than 160 megawatt hours of electricity per annum (which equals an annual electricity bill of $28,000).
Matters addressed under the Code of Conduct include electricity marketing, billing, connection, payment difficulties and financial hardship, disconnection, reconnection, pre-payment meters in remote communities, information and communication, customer service charters, dispute resolution, record keeping and compensation payments to customers for breaches of the Code.
The Code of Conduct was developed in close collaboration with the Electricity Reform Consumer Forum. A draft of the Code also underwent six weeks of public consultation.
The Code was approved by the Minister for Energy on 31 December 2004.
A copy of the Code is obtainable form the State Law Publisher or via the hyperlink prompt below.
Code of Conduct for th Supply of Electricity to Small Use Customers
Click here to download a copy of the Guide to Understanding the Code
Customer Code of Conduct Fact Sheet
Electricity Industry Customer Transfer Code 2004
From 1 January 2005, customers consuming more than 50 megawatt hours per annum have been eligible to choose to purchase electricity from a number of licensed ‘second-tier’ electricity retailers (those other than Western Power Retail). This brings the number of contestable customers to approximately 12,500.
Pursuant to sections 29(2)(a) and 29(2)(b) of the Electricity Industry Act 2004, the Electricity Industry Customer Transfer Code 2004 was developed to provide a robust framework to support the increase in customer transfers that is likely to be brought about through the lowering of the threshold for customer contestability.
The Customer Transfer Code promotes retail competition by setting out rules governing the provision of information relating to contestable customers, processes for transferring customers from one retailer to another, and obligations of retailers and network operators in processing and implementing the transfer of a contestable customer.
The Electricity Industry Customer Transfer Code was approved by the Minister for Energy on 15 December 2004.
A copy of the Code is obtainable form the State Law Publisher or via the hyperlink prompt below.
Electricity Industry Customer Transfer Code 2004
Click here to obtain an information brochure in relation to the reduction in the contestability threshold
Electricity Networks Access Code 2004
The Electricity Networks Access Code 2004 (the “Access Code”) prescribes commercial arrangements, including charges that will apply in respect of electricity generators and retailers accessing Western Power’s electricity network within the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). Initially, only the SWIS will be covered under the Access Code, but there is potential for other networks to be covered.
A principle underlying the Access Code is the importance of negotiated outcomes between Network Service Providers and Access seekers. A key objective of the Access Code is to balance the interests of the users and the Network Service Providers by ensuring a level playing field as a basis for negotiations rather than being overly prescriptive. In this respect, the new Access Code provides a comprehensive regulatory regime, whilst providing significant flexibility and discretion to parties.
The Access Code was approved by the Minister for Energy on 30 November 2004 and is independently administered by the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA).
Click here to download a copy of the Electricity Networks Access Code 2004
Network Access Code Amendments 2005
Amendments to the Access Code were published in the Government Gazette on 8 November 2005, following public consultation during September and October 2005.
These amendments related to:
A copy of the relevant document can be obtained from the State Law Publisher or via the hyperlink below.
Network Access Code Amendments 2005 (see page 5529)
The version of the Electricity Networks Access Code 2004 below has been posted to the Website to enable users to access the various Appendices. It includes the amendments that were made to the document as a result of the amendment process that was completed on 8 November 2005.
Electricity Network Access Code – Unofficial with disclaimer
Western Power submitted its draft Access Arrangement for the SWIS to the ERA on 24 August 2005. A link to this submission is provided below.
Western Power Corporation submission to the Econimic Regulation Authority
Electricity Industry Metering Code 2005
The Electricity Industry Metering Code 2005 (Metering Code) aims to support contestable customers, the Wholesale Market Rules and the Access Code by setting standards, determined through an independent and transparent process, for the metering of electricity generation and consumption.
These include standards relating to:
The Code was developed through a consultative process involving the Metering Code Expert Team and was approved by the Minister for Energy in December 2005.
A copy of the Code is obtainable from the State Law Publisher or via the hyperlink prompt below.
Electricity Industry Metering Code 2005
Electricity Industry (Network Quality & Reliability of Supply) Code
As part of the electricity reform process, electricity supply standards have been reviewed and expanded into a new Network Quality and Reliability of Supply Code.
Further details and a copy of the Code can be obtained by visiting the Office of Energy’s main website using the link provided below.
Link to Office of Energy website
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