Oct. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2729

In delivering the energy to a consumer’s terminals the licensee 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 electric-service wire, except as provided in clause 24 (e), within or without a consumer’s premises, and if within it shall be placed as close as possible to the point of entry, and contained within a suitably locked or sealed receptacle of fireproof construction. If fuses are outdoor type they must be moisture-proof. In case of 400-volts or 460-volts supply the phase or outer wire fuses shall be separated by an insulating partition, and shall be so arranged that any two conductors cannot be touched simultaneously. In ovens and other apparatus taking 3 kw. or more a switch shall be located in each phase or outer wire adjacent to and within easy reach of such apparatus. Such switch shall be enclosed in a metal casing.

All electric wires, fittings, 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, and such wires and apparatus shall conform to the “General Rules for Wiring” issued by the Council of the Fire Underwriters’ Associations of New Zealand. In all portable electric lamps the lamp-holder shall be so completely enclosed by insulating material that it shall be impossible for contact to be made with it by the handle, metal guard, or user without dismantling the lamp. All electric wires shall be so fixed and protected as to prevent the possibility of electrical discharge to any adjacent metallic substance. The onus of compliance with the “General Rules for Wiring” issued by the Council of the Fire Underwriters’ Associations of New Zealand shall be on the licensee.

54. INSTALLATION ON CONSUMERS’ PREMISES.

The licensee shall not connect the wires, fittings, and apparatus on a consumer’s premises with its electric lines, or, in the case of premises already connected, continue to supply from its electric lines, unless the requirements of these regulations are complied with, and the wiring, fittings, and apparatus are suitable for the voltage of supply and in accordance with the “General Rules for Wiring” issued by the Council of the Fire Underwriters’ Associations of New Zealand.

For the purpose of satisfying itself that the requirements of these regulations are being complied with the licensee shall require that notice shall be served upon him of the consumer’s intention to install wires, fittings, and other apparatus on any such premises, and the consumer shall render the licensee every reasonable facility for inspecting and testing such wires, fittings, and apparatus during the progress of the work and after its completion.

If any consumer is dissatisfied with the action of the licensee in refusing to give, or in discontinuing, or in not recommencing 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. If the Inspecting Engineer is satisfied that such wires, fittings, and apparatus may be safely used the licensee shall, upon receipt of notice to that effect from the Inspecting Engineer, forthwith supply the consumer with electrical energy.

55. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF WORKS.

The licensee shall keep the whole of the work authorized by the license in good order and condition so as to at all times ensure continuity of service and immunity from danger.

The Minister may, at the expense of the licensee and at any time and from time to time, order an inspection to be made of the whole or any part of the works carried out or erected by the licensee under the license. If any defect is found to exist it must be remedied forthwith; and if in the opinion of the Inspecting Engineer such defect is serious the Minister may, on receipt of the report, direct the licensee to at once cease using such defective electric line, apparatus, fittings, or machines until such defect is repaired or remedied to the satisfaction of the Inspecting Engineer. In default of the licensee remedying the defect or ceasing to transmit energy the licensee shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £20. The cost of such inspection shall be borne by the licensee.

The fees payable in respect of any such inspection shall be as follows:—

(a.) For any installation up to and including 100 kilowatt installed capacity .. .. 2 2 0
(b.) For any installation over 100 kilowatt and not exceeding 500 kilowatt .. .. 3 3 0
(c.) For any installation over 500 kilowatt and not exceeding 1,000 kilowatt .. .. 4 4 0
(d.) For any installation over 1,000 kilowatt .. .. 5 5 0
(e.) Any inspection exceeding two days, extra fee per day .. .. .. 1 1 0
(f.) Maintenance and extensions to plant or lines, per inspection .. .. .. 2 2 0

56. COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS.

For the purpose of ascertaining whether these regulations are being faithfully complied with by the licensee, the Minister, or any person appointed by him in that behalf, may at all reasonable times enter on the lands and works used by or in the occupation of the licensee.

C. Regulations providing for the removal or alteration of any dangerous line (whether erected under the authority of a license issued under the Public Works Amendment Act, 1911, or any other Act, or not) at the expense in each case of the owner of the line:—

57. DANGEROUS LINES.

The following lines shall be dangerous lines: Any electric line which is—

(a.) Within the undermentioned clearances from the ground at the lowest point of the span, whether erected in a street or not,—
(1.) In the case of low-pressure lines, 15 ft.;
(2.) In the case of high-pressure lines, 19 ft.;
(3.) In the case of extra-high-pressure lines, 21 ft.;
(4.) In the case of covered low-pressure electric service lines over consumers’ property, 13 ft.;
(5.) In the case of bare low-pressure electric service lines over consumers’ property, 15 ft.:

(b.) Normally accessible to any person from any building or part of any building, such as a balcony, veranda, parapet, or window, or any post or bank:

(c.) Insecurely supported due to defective binders, insulators, cross-arms, or poles:

(d.) Insufficiently protected with an insulating covering, due to deterioration of such covering or otherwise:

(e.) Of insufficient cross-sectional area:

(f.) A low-pressure or earthed line, bare or covered, and within 2 ft. in any part of its length (except at a transformer) of an insulated high-pressure line, or within 4 ft. of a bare high-pressure line (earthed lines include telegraph lines):

(g.) A neutral wire of a three-phase system or intermediate wire of a three-wire system, in either case normally earthed, and has at any point of its length a resistance to earth in excess of 25 ohms:

(h.) Erected in such a manner that it is necessary for the lineman to pass within 2 ft. of any high-pressure or extra-high-pressure lines not enclosed in an earthed pipe in order to work on telegraph, telephone, or other electric lines above such high-pressure or extra-high-pressure lines:

(i.) The earthing wire from the case of any transformer or any other metallic case, tube, or protective covering, or switchboard frame or support, or generator frame, and which is not connected to earth or the connection of which to earth has a resistance in excess of 25 ohms:

(j.) In the case of a switchboard, accessible to unauthorized persons, due to absence of protective screens, or which does not comply with the following clear and unobstructed overhead and lateral clearances—viz., at least 7 ft. from the floor to any bare low-pressure conductor, and at least 8 ft. to any high- or extra-high-pressure conductor, and with a passage-width of at least 3 ft. for low-pressure installations and at least 3 ft. 6 in. for high- or extra-high pressure installations at the back of any such switchboard:

(k.) A high-pressure line erected on a line carrying telegraph-wires that is not indicated by a distinctive red marking on the cross-arm by which it is supported.

58. DANGEROUS LINES TO BE MADE SAFE.

On receipt of written notice from the Minister to the effect that any line is a dangerous line, the licensee or proprietor of such line shall immediately take steps to render such dangerous line safe, and make same comply with these regulations or any regulations hereafter made in amendment thereof or in substitution therefor. If the licensee or proprietor fails to do so within ten days from the receipt of such notice the dangerous line may be removed or altered, as the Minister may direct, at the expense of the owner of such line.

D. Regulations imposing fines for the breach of these regulations:—

59. PENALTY.

Any person committing a breach of any of the above regulations, or any amendments or additions thereto, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £20.

F. D. THOMSON,
Clerk of the Executive Council.