10
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 1

(b.) If more than 60 ft. distant from any electric line belonging to the Council, the Council shall run the necessary service mains for a distance of 60 ft. free of charge, and the consumer shall pay the cost of the service wires for the balance of the distance, such payment not exceeding 1s. per foot of distance.

(c.) If the plant or mains of the Council are insufficient to supply the applicant with electrical energy the service may with the consent of the Minister, be postponed for a period not exceeding twelve months. Otherwise service shall be made within fourteen days of application.

(d.) Every consumer within any part of the area included in the license shall be entitled to a supply of electrical energy on the same terms on which any other consumer in such part of the area is entitled under similar circumstances to a corresponding supply.

(e.) If the nature of the proposed consumption of energy by any applicant is such as is likely to seriously interfere with the maintenance of a constant pressure on the lines in accordance with clause 22, the licensee may, with the approval of the Minister, require the consumer to install such apparatus as shall enable the conditions of clause 22 to be complied with.

(f.) The licensee may require services to be wired or installed by competent tradesmen, but no preference shall be given to services wired or installed by any individual contractor or firm of contractors.

(g.) The charge for electrical energy if paid within fourteen days of the rendering of a correct account shall not exceed an average rate of 9d. per unit for lighting purposes, and an average rate of 4d. per unit for motor-power, heating, or cooking purposes, provided that “lighting purposes” shall include the operation of motor-generators for lighting purposes. If not paid within the said period of fourteen days the charges shall not exceed 1s. and 6d. per unit respectively.

(h.) No meter rent shall be charged, but a minimum charge may be made monthly independent of the consumption not exceeding 2s. 6d. per K.W. or part of a K.W. of maximum capacity of each service. Where more than one meter is required to be installed in one building each meter shall, for the purpose of this clause, be considered an independent service.

(i.) If payment by the consumer is delayed more than thirty days after the date of rendering a correct account, the supply of electricity to such premises may be cut off without notice, and need not be restored until all arrears are paid.

SERVICE CONNECTIONS.

40. The Council shall be responsible for all electric lines or wires, fittings, and apparatus belonging to it or under its control which may be upon a consumer’s premises being maintained in a safe condition, and in all respects fit for supplying energy.

In delivering the energy to a consumer’s terminals the Council shall exercise all due precautions, so as to avoid risk of causing fire on the premises.

A suitable safety-fuse or other automatic circuit-breaker shall be inserted in each service line within a consumer’s premises as close as possible to the point of entry, and contained within a suitable locked or sealed receptacle of fire-proof construction.

All electric wires and apparatus on a consumer’s premises, except such parts as require to be earthed, shall be highly insulated, and suitable for the voltage at which the supply is given. They shall be thoroughly protected against injury to the insulation or access of moisture. All electric wires shall be so fixed and protected as to prevent the possibility of electrical discharge to any adjacent metallic substance.

INSULATION ON CONSUMER’S INSTALLATION.

41. The Council shall not connect the wires and fittings on a consumer’s premises with its mains, or, in the case of premises already connected, continue the supply from its mains, unless it is reasonably satisfied that the requirements of this license are complied with, that the wiring and fittings are suitable for the voltage at which supply is being given, that the installation generally is in accordance with the requirements of good practice, and that the connection or continuance of supply would not cause a leakage from those wires and fittings exceeding one ten-thousandth part of the maximum supply current to the premises.

For the purpose of satisfying itself that the requirements of this license are being observed, in so far as they apply to wires on a consumer’s premises, the Council may require that notice be served upon it of the intention to install wires, fittings, lamps, motors, or other apparatus on any premises, and may inspect the same during any reasonable hours while the installation of such is in progress.

TESTING CONSUMER’S INSTALLATION.

42. If the Council is reasonably satisfied, after making all proper examination by testing or otherwise, that the wirings and fittings are not suitable for the voltage being employed, that a leakage exists at some part of a circuit of such extent as to be a source of danger, and that such leakage does not exist at any part of the circuit belonging to the Council, or that any other requirements of this license are not being complied with, then and in such case any officer of the Council duly authorized by it in writing may, for the purpose of discovering whether the leakage exists at any part of a circuit within or upon any consumer’s premises, or whether the wiring is suitable and the general requirements of the license are complied with, by notice require the consumer, at some reasonable time after the service of the notice, to permit him to inspect and to test the wires and fittings belonging to the consumer and forming part of the circuit.

If on such testing and inspection the officer discovers a leakage from the consumer’s wires exceeding one ten-thousandth part of the maximum supply current to the premises, or that the requirements of this license are not properly conformed to, or if the consumer does not give all due facilities for inspection and testing, the Council shall either not commence the supply or shall forthwith discontinue the supply of energy to the premises in question, giving immediate notice to the consumer of its reasons for not commencing or for discontinuing the supply; and in either case supply shall not be given until the Council is reasonably satisfied that the installation is in conformity with the requirements of this license.

If any consumer is dissatisfied with the action of the Council in refusing to give, or in discontinuing, or in not commencing the supply of energy to his premises, the wires and fittings of that consumer may, on his application to the Minister and on payment of the cost, be inspected and tested by the Inspecting Engineer. This provision shall be endorsed on every notice given under the provisions of the two last preceding paragraphs.

PLANS.

43. The Council shall, before the erection or construction of any part of the work hereby authorized is begun, submit for the approval of the Minister such plans and other information showing and describing such work as he may require. In the event of the Council at any time desiring to make alterations to the work involving a departure from the type of construction shown on the approved plans, it shall submit for the Minister’s approval plans showing such type of construction as it is proposed to adopt, and with such approval the alterations may be carried out.

NOTICE REGARDING EXTENSIONS, ETC.

44. Before commencing the erection of any part of the lines hereby authorized, or the extension of any line already erected, the Council shall give at least seven days’ notice in writing to the Resident Engineer of the Public Works Department in Stratford, and also to the District Engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department in Wellington, of its intention to carry out the work, and shall forward to the Minister of Public Works a locality plan showing the route of any extension.

ELECTRIC LINES IN RANGITIKEI COUNTY.

45. Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, the licensee shall not be entitled to erect, maintain, or use any electric line within the Rangitikei County except subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of its license and the regulations relating thereto, as may from time to time be agreed on between the licensee and the Rangitikei County Council.

NOTICE OF COMPLETION.

46. The Council shall, prior to the completion of the said works or any separate portion thereof, give to the Minister at least one month’s notice in writing of the estimated date of such completion.

COMMENCEMENT OF SUPPLY.

47. The Council shall not use any portion of the electric lines authorized by this license, or permit the same to be used, for any purpose until the Minister has given notice in writing to the Council that he has received from the Inspecting Engineer a certificate that the said work, or any portion thereof, has been satisfactorily carried out.

INSPECTION OF WORKS.

48. The Minister may at any time order an inspection to be made of the works, lines, and wires of the Council used for electric lighting, heating, and power purposes. If any defect is found to exist it must be remedied forthwith; and if, in the opinion of the officer or person inspecting, such default is serious, the Minister may, on receipt of the report, direct the Council to at once cease transmitting energy either over the whole of the Council’s line and wires or over any specified part thereof until such defect is repaired or remedied. The cost of such inspection shall be borne by the Council.