2500
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 6

of the licensee shall in case of dispute be referred to the Minister, whose decision in the matter shall be final as to the demand in question, but shall not prevent the making of a fresh demand at any time after a lapse of twelve months from the date of such decision.

(10) If at any time an electric distribution-line erected pursuant to a demand made under this regulation is used by the licensee to afford a supply of electrical energy to any other consumer, whether the demand on the part of the person seeking to become a consumer has been made before, or at the same time as, or after, the demand pursuant to which the electric distribution-line was erected, then the obligations imposed under clause (6), or under clause (7), or under clause (11) of this regulation (as the case may be) on the person pursuant to whose demand the line was erected shall be abated proportionately, and the licensee shall do all things necessary to reduce accordingly the liability purporting to exist upon any undertaking given by such person last referred to and upon any security given by, or on behalf of, such person last referred to, and if any question arises as to the amount of abatement or reduction proper in the premises it shall be referred to the arbitration of the Chief Electrical Engineer, or an Engineer of the Public Works Department, or other person nominated for that purpose by the Chief Electrical Engineer, and the decision so arrived at shall be final and binding on all parties.

(11) Upon the expiration of the period covered by the undertaking first in point of time given in respect of any extension effected pursuant to a demand made under clause (7) of this regulation, and if such extension continues to be maintained by the licensee the consumer shall be entitled to continue to receive a supply of electrical energy provided that all moneys due by him to the licensee under the aforesaid undertaking have been paid to the licensee, and further provided that the consumer undertakes to pay to the licensee annually for such period as the consumer receives a supply of electrical energy from such extension a sum equal to 15 per cent. (or such lower percentage as the licensee may fix) of the capital cost of the extension :

Provided that the licensee shall credit to the consumer in reduction of the annual sum so payable in respect of any year all moneys paid by the consumer for electrical energy used in that year charged according to the scale of charges in force at that time in that locality for the same type of service.

21-44. If the electrical supply authority’s plant or mains are, in the opinion of the Chief Electrical Engineer, of insufficient capacity to enable a satisfactory supply of electrical energy to be given or to continue to be given to any person in respect of any premises within the area of supply, the electrical supply authority shall, on being required so to do by the Minister, forthwith proceed to install such additional plant or mains of a greater capacity as may, in the opinion of the Chief Electrical Engineer, be required to give a satisfactory supply of electrical energy in respect of such premises as aforesaid :

Provided that nothing herein contained shall affect the right of any person concerned to require the electrical supply authority to furnish to any premises a supply of electrical energy pursuant to Regulations 21-42 and 21-43 hereof, as the case may be.

21-45. The charge for electrical energy may be altered from time to time on one month’s prior notice having been given by means of adequate advertisement in a newspaper circulating within the district, or by one month’s prior notice in writing to the consumers concerned.

21-46. Meters required by the electrical supply authority for the purpose of measuring the supply of electrical energy to any consumer shall be supplied free of charge. Where prior to the coming into force of these regulations rent has been charged for any such meter, no reduction shall be made in any section of a tariff until all such rent charged in respect of such section has been abolished.

21-47. A minimum charge may be made by the electrical supply authority and shall be shown on its scale of charges. The minimum charge for any period shall be subject to the approval of the Minister.

21-48. Every consumer within any part of the electrical supply authority’s area of supply shall be entitled to a supply of electrical energy on the same terms and conditions as those on which any other consumer within such part of the area is receiving in similar circumstances a corresponding supply.

21-49. From the time when the licensee commences to supply electrical energy in pursuance of the license, the licensee shall continuously during the period of the day for which he has agreed with any consumer to supply electrical energy adequately maintain his plant and do all things necessary so as to afford to such consumer a supply of electrical energy to the maximum extent to which the licensee has undertaken to afford such supply; or if no maximum has been agreed upon, then to an extent which is reasonable in the circumstances :

Provided that for any purposes connected with the efficient working of the undertaking the Minister may give permission to the licensee to discontinue the supply at such intervals of time and for such periods as he may think expedient. When the supply is so discontinued public notice shall be given, when practicable, of such discontinuance, and of the probable duration thereof.

21-50. Every consumer’s installation shall comply with the requirements of these regulations and of the Electrical Wiring Regulations, 1935.

21-51. Where the installation of any person and every appliance connected therewith complies with the requirements of the Electrical Wiring Regulations, 1935, the electrical supply authority shall not, without the permission of the Chief Electrical Engineer in writing, refuse to supply such person with electrical energy on the ground that the installation or any appliance connected therewith constitutes an electrical hazard.

PART 22.—COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION.

22-01. In this part of these regulations :—

“Initial installation” means the first erection, or laying, or construction, of any electric line (whether above or below ground) authorized by a license, and includes the first erection, or laying, or construction, of any portion of such line used, or intended to be used, prior to the erection, or laying, or construction, of a further portion thereof, or used, or intended to be used, in connection with a portion thereof previously erected, or laid, or constructed.

“Alteration,” in respect of an electric line that has been used for conveying, transmitting, or distributing electrical energy, includes the removal of the line to a new position, the use of the line to carry electrical energy at a pressure different from the pressure at which it was previously thereby carried, and an alteration, or replacement of the wires or other conductors, serving to increase, or reduce, the current-carrying capacity of the line, or any change in the number or position of the wires on a pole or other support.

“Additional installation” means any installation other than an initial installation and other than an alteration of an electric line, notwithstanding that in such additional installation use may be made of the poles or other supports or other apparatus already in use and continuing in use for the purposes of another installation.

TIME OF COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION.

22-11. The licensee shall, within twelve months from the date of the license, make a substantial commencement of the work to which the license relates, and shall proceed continuously and energetically with the construction of all such work.

22-12. The licensee shall substantially complete the several works referred to in the license within the time, or times, specified in that behalf in the license, or if no time be so specified, then within one year from the date of the grant of the license; provided that the Minister may, on the application of the licensee, and whether before or after any date for completion specified or implied in the license, substitute any later date for completion if, in the Minister’s opinion, the work has been delayed by strikes, lock-outs, or combinations of workmen, by proceedings taken by third parties, by fire, flood, tempest, failure of soil, or breakdown of plant or works, or by any other cause not within the control of the licensee.

NOTIFICATION.

22-21. (1) Before commencing to erect, or lay, or construct, any initial installation (whether above or below ground) the licensee shall give the following notices of the intention so to do :—

(a) To the Chief Electrical Engineer, fourteen days’ notice ; and

(b) To the Telegraph Engineer, fourteen days’ notice.

(2) Before commencing to erect, or lay, or construct, any additional installation (whether above or below ground), or make any alteration, the licensee shall give the following notices of the intention so to do :—

(a) To the Chief Electrical Engineer, seven days’ notice :

Provided that notice to the Chief Electrical Engineer shall not be necessary in the case of—

(i) An electric line of medium pressure or any lower pressure not exceeding 40 chains in length ; or

(ii) An electric service-line of medium pressure or any lower pressure whatever its length ; or

(iii) The erection of an additional wire or wires serving to convert single-phase distribution into two-phase or three-phase distribution where three-phase distribution has already been generally used in installations belonging to the licensee ; and