The legislation listed below is of particular relevance to consumers. Electronic versions are available for browsing on the State Law Publisher web site.
Energy Coordination Act 1994
This Act provides for -
- a scheme for licensing the supply of gas in certain areas of the State;
- making the Economic Regulation Authority responsible for the licensing scheme;
- the facilitation of competition in the retail gas market by provision for retail market schemes (appropriate arrangements between businesses operating in that market), a marketing code of conduct and a scheme for the resolution of certain customer disputes;
- other regulation of the gas supply industry;
- a public officer to coordinate and advise on energy policy and with functions under certain written laws relating to energy supply and in relation to the promotion of energy research; and
- a public officer with functions under certain written laws relating to energy safety.
Electricity Industry Act 2004
This Act governs the operation and regulation of the Western Australian electricity industry and:
- provides for the establishment of a Wholesale Electricity Market;
- establishes an independent licensing regime;
- provides for the development of an Electricity Networks Access Code;
- grants the heads of power to develop measures to protect customers in the new market such as the Customer Service Code, Electricity Ombudsman and standard customer contracts;
- confers of a number of electricity related functions upon the Economic Regulation Authority, which include responsibility for the licensing and access regime, providing advice to Government on electricity tariffs, and electricity market surveillance; and
- provides for the establishment of a Western Power Network extension and expansion policy.
Electricity Act 1945
This Act:
- makes provision as to the examination and licensing of persons in respect of their competency to carry out works relating to electricity, and the examination, prohibition or approval of electrical appliances; to repeal the Electricity Act 1937; and for other relative purposes.
Energy Coordination (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2004
These regulations are made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and specify how gas contracts for residential and small business customers must be written. The regulations also specify certain provisions designed to protect customers, and which must be included in all contracts for residential and small business customers.
Energy Coordination (Ombudsman Scheme) Regulations 2004
These regulations are made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and:
- determine the responsibilities of the governing body of gas industry ombudsman schemes;
- determine the jurisdiction of gas industry ombudsman schemes;
- prescribe the functions and powers of a gas industry ombudsmen; and
- enforce compliance with gas industry ombudsman schemes.
Any company that sells gas to small use customers must be a member of an approved gas industry ombudsman scheme.
Gas Marketing Code of Conduct 2004
The Code of Conduct is made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and the Energy Legislation Amendment Act 2003, and specifies what gas companies can and cannot do when they market gas to residential and small business customers. All gas companies that market gas to residential and small business customers will be required to comply with the Gas Marketing Code of Conduct.
Energy Coordination (Gas Tariffs) Regulations 2000
These regulations are made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and set out the tariff caps that apply to the Mid-West and South-West Gas Distribution System (stretching from Geraldton in the north to Busselton in the south, including the Perth metropolitan area), Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and Albany.
Energy Coordination (Last Resort Supply) Regulations 2005
In conjunction with the Energy Coordination (Consumer Contracts) Regulations 2004, the Energy Coordination (Last Resort Supply) Regulations 2005 implement supplier of last resort (SOLR) arrangements. SOLR arrangements are the means to ensure that small use customers continue to receive gas supply if a retailer in the competitive gas market is unable to supply gas for some unforeseen reason.
