Australian Capital Territory

Utilities (Electricity Restriction Scheme)
Approval 2004 (No 1)

Disallowable instrument DI2004—270

made under the

Utilities Act 2000, s 234 (Regulation making power); 
Utilities (Electricity Restrictions) Regulation 2004, 
section 6 (Approved electricity restriction scheme)

______________________________________________________________

Approval of scheme

I approve the attached electricity restriction scheme.

Jon Stanhope  MLA
Chief Minister

Date

20 December 2004

Electricity Restriction Scheme

The Electricity Restriction Scheme (the Scheme) comprises five (5) stages. Each stage specifies a number of restriction measures which the utility may impose, by public notice, when a declaration of that stage of restriction is in force. The Appendix to this document contains details of:
-	the list of restriction measures that may be imposed in each stage; and 
-	the maximum period or periods each day during which each measure applies. 

When the Minister considers that it is necessary or desirable to do so in order to:
-	limit the impact and/or reduce the likelihood of load shedding;
-	prevent more widespread and/or random supply disruptions;
-	reduce the inconvenience to consumers of unexpected interruptions; 
-	facilitate, as far as practicable, the provision of reliable and sustainable electricity services by the utility to consumers; 
-	fulfil the ACT’s obligations under the National Electricity Law and the National Electricity Market Memorandum of Understanding on the Use of Emergency Powers; or
-	ensure cross-border harmonisation with regard to electricity restrictions implemented or proposed in NSW, 
he or she may declare, under the section 9 of the Utilities (Electricity Restrictions) Regulations 2004, that a particular electricity restriction stage under this scheme is in force.

In deciding which stage of restriction should be in force, the following factors must be considered:
-	the expected timeframe and duration of the target reduction in the electricity demand;
-	the electrical network operational requirement and conditions;
-	the transmission and/or distribution capacity available for the supply of electricity services in the ACT;
-	the capacity of electricity supply available to the ACT from the National Electricity Market Management Company (NEMMCO) and their agents;
-	any other constraints on the capacity of electricity supply into the ACT or within the ACT;
-	any reduction in the ACT total electricity load to be achieved (eg. as required by the utility or requested by NEMMCO or as a result of inter-jurisdictional negotiation);
-	available weather forecasts and other meteorological advice;
-	daily electricity demand levels in the immediate preceding period;
-	daily electricity demand levels for corresponding periods in previous years;
-	electricity restrictions currently imposed in other jurisdictions; and
-	any other relevant issues.

Home Businesses
For the purpose of the Scheme, businesses operated from residential premises are treated as residential customers. 

Automatic Exemptions
Electricity may be used to the extent required to directly support the health and safety of the following people:
-	People with a terminal illness and receiving palliative care;
-	People receiving Hospital in the Home treatment services;
-	People dependant on life support systems;
-	Women in the last three months of pregnancy with health complications;
-	Babies and children under 5 years of age;
-	People aged 70 and over;
-	People with a chronic illness or other chronic medical condition (including moderate to severe skin conditions) where their health will or could be adversely affected by the restrictions or associated climatic or other conditions; or
-	People with moderate to severe physical or mental disability.

In relation to restrictions on the use of air conditioning and heating systems, an owner/operator of the system is temporarily exempt from the restrictions if the system requires a suitably qualified person to adjust its thermostat AND the adjustment has been arranged with the qualified person for the earliest possible occasion. 

Other exemptions may be approved by the utility on application, if the consumer can demonstrate that the restrictions would cause the consumer serious detriment.

None of the above exemptions will apply in the event of rationing or load shedding that involves electricity being cut off from a group of consumers.

Use of other operational means by the utility
Regardless of what stage of restriction is implemented, the utility may use other permitted operational means including disconnection of supply (load shedding) to address immediate imbalance between the available supply capacity and the demand, and to preserve the integrity of the electrical system and its operation.  

Declaration of a state of emergency under the Emergencies Act 2004
At any time, the ACT Government retains the discretion to declare a state of emergency under the Emergencies Act 2004 under which supply and/or use of electricity may be restricted to emergency use only.

Definitions
National Electricity Law—see the Electricity (National Scheme) Act 1997, section 7. 

National Electricity Market means the market for wholesale trading of electricity with participants situated in different States and Territories of Australia established in accordance with the National Electricity Market Legislation Agreement by the 
governments of the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. 

NEMMCO means National Electricity Market Management Company. 

utility means a licensed electricity distribution and connection services provider.

APPENDIX

Stage 1 Restrictions 

Restrictions on Residential Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
1.1	Turn off unnecessary residential lighting	24 hours per day	
1.2	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 23oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 18oC or lower)	07:00 to 21:00	
1.3	Minimise use of cooking equipment	07:00 to 21:00	
1.4	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
1.5	No use of dishwashers, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners & second TV	07:00 to 21:00	
1.6	No use of domestic pool pumping & heating operation	07:00 to 21:00	
1.7	No use of TVs or computers for game purposes	07:00 to 21:00	

No Restrictions on Commercial/Industrial Use of Electricity 
Stage 2 Restrictions

Restrictions on Residential Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
2.1	Turn off unnecessary residential lighting	24 hours per day	
2.2	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 23oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 18oC or lower)	07:00 to 21:00	
2.3	Minimise use of cooking equipment	07:00 to 21:00	
2.4	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
2.5	No use of dishwashers, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners & second TV	07:00 to 21:00	
2.6	No use of domestic pool pumping & heating operation	07:00 to 21:00	
2.7	No use of TVs or computers for game purposes	07:00 to 21:00	

and

Restrictions on Commercial/Industrial Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
2.8	Turn off 50% of lighting in office areas	24 hours per day	
2.9	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 23oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 18oC or lower)	08:00 to 20:00	
2.10	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
2.11	Turn off 50% of urns	08:00 to 20:00	
2.12	Minimise use of cooking equipment	08:00 to 20:00	
2.13	Turn off unnecessary office equipment	08:00 to 20:00	

Stage 3 Restrictions
 
Restrictions on Residential Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
3.1	Turn off unnecessary residential lighting	24 hours per day	
3.2	No use of air conditioning & heating	07:00 to 21:00	
3.3	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 24oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 17oC lower)	21:00 to 07:00 	
3.4	No use of cooking equipment	07:00 to 09:00 and 
17:00 to 19:00	
3.5	Minimise use of cooking equipment	19:00 to 07:00 and 
09:00 to 17:00	
3.6	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
3.7	No use of dishwashers, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners & second TV	24 hours per day	
3.8	No use of domestic pool pumping & heating operation	24 hours per day	
3.9	No use of TVs or computers for game purposes	24 hours per day	
 
and

Restrictions on Commercial/Industrial Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
3.10	Turn off 50% of lighting in office areas	24 hours per day	
3.11	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 23oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 18oC or lower)	08:00 to 20:00	
3.12	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
3.13	Turn off 50% of urns	08:00 to 20:00	
3.14	Minimise use of cooking equipment	08:00 to 20:00	
3.15	Turn off unnecessary office equipment	08:00 to 20:00	

Stage 4 Restrictions
 
Restrictions on Residential Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
4.1	Turn off unnecessary residential lighting	24 hours per day	
4.2	No use of air conditioning & heating	07:00 to 21:00	
4.3	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 24oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 17oC or lower)	21:00 to 07:00 	
4.4	No use of cooking equipment	07:00 to 09:00 and 
17:00 to 19:00	
4.5	Minimise use of cooking equipment	19:00 to 07:00 and 
09:00 to 17:00	
4.6	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
4.7	No use of dishwashers, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners & second TV	24 hours per day	
4.8	No use of domestic pool pumping & heating operation	24 hours per day	
4.9	No use of TVs or computers for game purposes	24 hours per day	
 
and

Restrictions on Commercial/Industrial Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
4.10	Turn off 50% of lighting in office areas	24 hours per day	
4.11	No use of air conditioning & heating	07:00 to 21:00	
4.12	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 24oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 17oC or lower)	21:00 to 06:00	
4.13	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
4.14	Turn off 50% of urns	24 hours per day	
4.15	Minimise use of cooking equipment	24 hours per day	
4.16	Turn off unnecessary office equipment	24 hours per day	

Stage 5 Restrictions

Rotational and pre-planned blackouts as necessary, in addition to 
Stage 4 Restrictions, namely:
Restrictions on Residential Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
5.1	Turn off unnecessary residential lighting	24 hours per day	
5.2	No use of air conditioning & heating	07:00 to 21:00	
5.3	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 24oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 17oC or lower)	21:00 to 07:00 	
5.4	No use of cooking equipment	07:00 to 09:00 and 
17:00 to 19:00	
5.5	Minimise use of cooking equipment	19:00 to 07:00 and 
09:00 to 17:00	
5.6	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
5.7	No use of dishwashers, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners & second TV	24 hours per day	
5.8	No use of domestic pool pumping & heating operation	24 hours per day	
5.9	No use of TVs or computers for game purposes	24 hours per day	
 
and

Restrictions on Commercial/Industrial Use of Electricity 
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
5.10	Turn off 50% of lighting in office areas	24 hours per day	
5.11	No use of air conditioning & heating	07:00 to 21:00	
5.12	Restrict use of air conditioning (set temperature to 24oC or higher) & heating (set temperature to 17oC or lower)	21:00 to 06:00	
5.13	Consolidate refrigeration & turn off unnecessary fridges	24 hours per day	
5.14	Turn off 50% of urns	24 hours per day	
5.15	Minimise use of cooking equipment	24 hours per day	
5.16	Turn off unnecessary office equipment	24 hours per day