On 1st January 2005 the Economic Regulation Authority assumed responsibility for issuing, amending, monitoring and enforcing electricity licences. Unless exempted as explained below, parties who participate in the following activities in the electricity industry in Western Australia will be required to be licensed:
- Generation – where a party constructs or operates any apparatus, equipment, plant or buildings used, or to be used for, or in connection with, the generation of electricity;
- Transmission – where a party constructs or operates any apparatus, equipment, plant or buildings used in the supply of electricity at a voltage of 66kV or higher;
- Distribution – where a party constructs or operates any apparatus, equipment, plant or buildings used in the supply of electricity at a voltage of less than 66kV;
- Retail – where a party wishes to sell electricity, or
- Integrated Regional – outside of the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), a single licence can apply to a party involved in more than one of the above activities.
Transitional arrangements for existing operators
A party who, immediately prior to 1 January 2005, was conducting any of the activities required to be licensed (an “existing operator”) has until 31 December 2005 to apply for a licence. An existing operator will be treated as holding a licence until 30 June 2006.
Requirement to be licensed
A penalty may apply where parties conduct any of the above activities without a licence.
Licence exemptions
Section 7 of the Electricity Industry Act 2004 states that persons are not required to be licensed if the relevant generating works, transmission or distribution system is used for the supply of electricity solely for the consumption of:
- the person who owns or controls the works or system;
- a related party; or
- a person who is in a joint venture arrangement with the owner or controller of the works or system in relation to the supply.
Under section 8 of the Act the Governor may also make an order exempting a person, or specified class of person, from the requirement to hold an electricity licence. The Electricity Industry Exemption Order 2005 (Exemption Order) was made by the Lieutenant-Governor and Administrator in Executive Council and was published in the Government Gazette, WA on 9 December 2005. The Exemption Order includes exemptions for:
- generating works under 30MW
- on-supply to commercial premises
- on-supply to residential premises
- supply to Aboriginal communities
- sale to certain customers under the Iron Ore Beneficiation (BHP) Agreement
- operations under various government agreements
- operations in the DBNGP corridor
A copy of the gazetted order is available on the Office of Energy's web site.
Persons seeking further information should contact:
Office of Energy
Level 9, Governor Stirling Tower
197 St Georges Tce
PERTH WA 6000
Ph. (08) 9420 5600
Licence Applications
Applicants for an electricity licence will need to understand the relevant documents and submit an application form:
Click here for more detailed information and decisions on licence applications.
Contact
Enquiries concerning the Authority’s electricity licensing functions should be directed to:
Mr Paul Kelly
Executive Director – Licensing, Monitoring and Customer Protection
6th Floor, Governor Stirling Tower
197 St Georges Tce
PERTH WA 6000
Ph. (08) 9213 1900
Register of Interested Persons – Electricity Licensing
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