Amendments to the Electricity Industry Code
VERSION 3
The Authority became responsible for administering the Electricity Industry Code (the Code) from 1 July 2007. Version 3 of the Code was current at that time.
VERSION 4
On 12 May 2008, the Authority was requested by the Minister for Mines and Energy to review the metrology provisions of the Code to identify any changes that may be required to facilitate the introduction of the National Metrology Procedure developed by the NEMMCO. The review recommended amendments to the Code, and Annexure B, the standard retail contract. This version 4 of the Code came into effect with its gazettal on 4 August 2008,
VERSION 5
On 24 April 2009 the Authority released Final Decision on Minimum Service Standards (MSS) and Guaranteed Service Level (GSL) arrangements to apply from 1 July 2010. On 22 October 2009 the Authority released its Final Decision on its Review of GSL Claims procedures. Code amendments from both these Final Decisions were incorporated into Version 5 of the Code which was to come into effect from 1 July 2010. The amendments in Version 5 of the Code:
- set the minimum service standards (MSS), as contained in Schedule 1 of the Code, which will apply to the electricity distributors from the next regulatory period commencing on 1 July 2010;
- increased the current guaranteed service level (GSL) payment amounts by 30% to maintain their real deterrent value by accounting for the effects of inflation. The cap on individuals’ annual entitlements to GSL payments was also increase by 30%;
- amended the process that governs the lodgment and assessment of customer claims for GSL payments, contained in clauses 2.5.11 to 2.5.14 of the Code; and
- amended the requirements covering GSL payments by distributors for interruption frequency to allow payments under clause 2.5.9(a)(ii) to be made at the end of each financial year.
VERSION 6
On 22 February 2010, the Authority released its Final Decision on its Review of Code Reporting Requirements. The Code amendments resulting from that Review are contained in Version 6 of the Code which came into effect from 1 July 2010 and incorporates those amendments from version 5 which were also scheduled to come into effect from that date.
The additional amendments contained in Version 6 of the Code require:
- market and non-market customer disconnection and complaints data be reported and monitored on a quarterly basis rather than annually and the data be reported to the Authority within one month of the end of the quarter;
- additional reporting obligations related to financial hardship relating to;
- the number of retailers’ customers that are participating in a hardship program and their average debt;
- the number of retailers’ customers denied access to the retailers' hardship program;
- the average debt of those retail customers entering the hardship program; and
- the average length of time a customer remains in the hardship program;
- distributors to report categorised distributor-initiated disconnections, and total disconnections, quarterly;
- the current restriction on a retailer requesting a special meter reading is removed, subject to a retail entity not transferring a customer on the basis of a special meter reading unless it either:
- obtains explicit informed consent from that customer to both conduct the special meter reading and charge the customer for that special meter reading; or
- does not charge the customer for the special meter reading.
VERSION 7
The Authority released its Final Decision on Amendments to the Electricity Industry Code requiring prior notice for price changes. The Authority's Final Decision proposed that, in relation to small market customers, a retailer be required to provide either:
- individual written communication including the date of the price change, details of the new prices and details of how the increase will specifically affect the customer; or
- a newspaper advertisement, provided that:
- customers are notified of the date of an impending price change in a bill message prior to the change, stating when (date) and where (e.g. website and press notification) further details on the rates or variations in rates will be available;
- no less than 10 business days prior to the date of the price change, publish the new rates in a newspaper/s circulating throughout Queensland;
- no less than 10 business days prior to the date of the price change, publish the new rates on the retailer's website; and
- full details of how the change will specifically affect the customer appear on the next bill received by the customer.
The Authority proposed a number of amendments be made to the Electricity Industry Code to give effect to its Final Decision.
The Minister approved all the amendments proposed by the Authority with the exception of proposed new clause 4.12.8 which noted the minimum information that would constitute the "full details" of a price change to be provided to residential customers.
Version 7 of the Code came into effect from 31 July 2010 and included amendments as approved by the Minister.
VERSION 8
In November 2010 the Authority released new Guidelines for Credit Support arrangements to apply between Queensland's electricity retailers and distributors. The guidelines are provided for in the Electricity Act 1994 rather than in the Electricity Industry Code.
In Version 8 of the Electricity Industry Code the obsolete credit support arrangements which were contained in clause 12 of the Standard Coordination Agreement (Annexure C to the Electricity Industry Code) have been removed. The amendments involved:
- the deletion of clause 12 "Retailer's performance security", which contains the soon to be redundant credit support arrangements;
- the deletion of clause 13.2 "Distributor may terminate", which provides for a distributor to terminate the coordination agreement with a retailer where a retailer fails to provide an undertaking as required by clause 12; and
- the deletion of the definition of "undertaking", a term which is defined under clause 12.
Version 8 of the Code was approved by the Minister and came into effect from 18 February 2011.
A copy of amended Codes, showing recent amendments, can be downloaded below.
VERSION 9
Version 9 of the Code includes a number of minor administrative changes to the Code.
As allowed under Section 120PA of the Electricity Act 1994, the Authority did not consulted on these amendments because it was of the view that they were urgent and/or uncontroversial and/or do not materially detriment anyone’s interests.
Version 9 of the Code was approved by the Minister and came into effect from 1 July 2011.
An amended Version 9 of the Code (showing marked changes from Version 8) can be downloaded below.
VERSION 10
Version 10 of the Code includes a number of changes to remove any areas of overlap or conflict between the Code and the Australian Consumer Law introduced by the Commonwealth Government. It also includes a number of other minor amendments to reflect changes to organisation names and to update references to policies.
Version 10 of the Code was approved by the Minister and came into effect from 26 August 2011.
A copy of the amended Code showing changes in version 10 can be downloaded below.
Electricity Industry Code Versions
Version 10
Version 9
Version 8
Version 7
Version 6
Version 5
Version 4
Version 3
