Australian Capital Territory

Construction Occupations (Licensing) Interval Metering Transitional Code of Practice 2017
Disallowable instrument DI2017–287
Made under the
Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004, section 126A (Codes of Practice)

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Interval Metering Transitional Code of Practice 2017.

2	Commencement 
This instrument commences on the day after its notification day. 

3	Code of practice
I approve the Interval Metering Transitional Code of Practice in the attached Schedule.

Mick Gentleman
Minister for Planning and Land Management 
30 November 2017

Australian Capital Territory

Interval metering transitional code of practice

made under the 

Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004

Contents
	Page

Part 1	Preliminary
1	Name of code
2	Dictionary
3	Offences and other consequences of contravening this code
Part 2	 Important concepts
4	Object of code
5	Code does not affect other ACT laws
6	Meaning of certain terms—correlation with Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004, Electricity Safety Act 1971 etc
7	Relationship of code to AS/NZS 3000
8	Relationship of code to National Electricity Rules
Part 3	 Electrical metering requirements
9	Requirements for metering installations and metering enclosures
Dictionary

Part 1	Preliminary

1	Name of code
This code is the Interval metering transitional code of practice.

2	Dictionary
The dictionary at the end of this code is part of this code.

Note 1	The dictionary at the end of this code defines certain terms used in this Code, and may include references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere in this Code.

Note 2	A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire code unless the definition, or another provision of the code, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).

Note 3	See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.

3	Offences and other consequences of contravening this code
The Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 includes offence and other enforcement mechanisms that can result from a contravention of this code. 

A contravention of this code may also have consequences for metering coordinators and metering providers accredited and registered under the National Electricity Rules, which require that metering service providers comply with the relevant requirements of the states and territories.  

Note 1	A reference to an Act includes a reference to the statutory instruments made or in force under the Act, including regulations (see Legislation Act, s 104).

		

Part 2		Important concepts

4	Object of code
The object of this code is to prescribe requirements for electricians in relation to the location and accessibility of type 1, 2, 3 and 4 metering installations and associated metering enclosures regulated under the Electricity Safety Act 1971, and applies to the relocation of existing metering installations. 

This code does not apply to the installation of type 5 and 6 metering installations installed under transitional arrangements allowed by the Australian Energy Market Operator, if the metering installation is installed in accordance with the relevant distribution network service provider’s service and installation rules.

Note 1	Type 1-4 meters are known as interval meters. Interval metering work requires an endorsement under s. 31C Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004. Transitional provisions can be found in Part 9 of the Regulation.  

Note 2	Type 5 and 6 metering installations are also electrical installations under the Electricity Safety Act 1971 and must comply with that Act. Work on these metering installations is also licensable electrical wiring work under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004.  

5	Code does not affect other ACT laws
This code does not affect the operation of any other law in force in the ACT relating to the provision of metering services.

Example of related laws not affected
Building Act 2004
Electricity Safety Act 1971
National Energy Retail Law (ACT) Act 2012
Utilities Act 2000
Work Health and Safety Act 2012
Note 	An example is part of the Act, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).

6	Meaning of certain terms—correlation with Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004, Electricity Safety Act 1971 etc
A term used in this code has the same meaning as the term has in the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 or the Electricity Safety Act 1971 unless this code provides a different meaning for the term.  

7	Relationship of code to AS/NZS 3000
(1)	This code operates in conjunction with the relevant provisions of AS/NZS 3000 as adopted and applied by the Electricity Safety Act 1971, which also provide for standards that apply to metering installations and metering enclosures covered by this code. 

Note	AS/NZS 3000 also includes standards for electrical equipment and electrical wiring work, including interval metering work, such as that the installation must be safe and fit for purpose.

8	Relationship of code to National Electricity Rules  
(1)	This code operates in conjunction with the relevant provisions of the National Electricity Rules adopted by the National Electricity (ACT) Law, which also provide standards that apply to metering installations covered by this code. 

Note 	The Electricity (National Scheme) Act 1997 applies the National Electricity Law set out in the National Electricity (South Australia) Act 1996 (SA), schedule as if it were an ACT Act called the National Electricity (ACT) Law. This law adopts the National Electricity Rules. 

Part 3		Electrical metering requirements   

9	Requirements for metering installations and metering enclosures

(1)	A metering enclosure must be located so that it is reasonably physically accessible for the maintenance and replacement of a metering installation.

Examples of locations that are not reasonably physically accessible 

1	Over stairways or ramps

2	In narrow passageways or confined spaces.

3	In vehicle thoroughfares, docks, driveways, and car parking spaces.

4	In fire isolated stairways or other fire isolated areas.  

5	In close proximity to or over machinery. 

6	In an area with projections above or below the metering enclosure. 

7	Where available space surrounding the metering enclosure does not allow the metering enclosure’s doors to open fully or for a person to have reasonable space to work when the doors are open.  

8	Areas to which access is normally prohibited; for example, for health reasons.

Note 1	AS/NZS 3000 also provides that the installation must be safe, which also precludes hazardous areas for electrical equipment, such as prohibited locations for switchboards, in pool or spa zones, or within a gas emitting devices exclusion zone.   

Note 2	The National Electricity Rules also includes requirements for the location of meters for their effective operation. 

Note 3 	The Work Health and Safety Act 2012 provides for designing installations for the health and safety of workers during construction and in undertaking maintenance and subsequent work on the installation. 

Note 4	A note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act. See Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.

(2)	A metering installation must not be located where it may adversely affect the—
(a)	operation of other equipment; 
(b)	amenity of building occupants.  

Examples of locations that may adversely affect the amenity of occupants

1	In or near bedrooms where noise from the meter’s operation may interfere with sleeping.

Dictionary
(see s 2)

Note	The Legislation Act, the Building Act 2004, the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 and the Electricity Safety Act 1971 may contain definitions and other provisions relevant to this code.

AS/NZS 3000—see Dictionary, Electricity Safety Act 1971.

electrical wiring work—see Dictionary, Electricity Safety Act 1971

electrician for this code means an entity who, under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 holds an unrestricted electrician or electrical contractor licence and—

(a)	an endorsement to do interval metering work under section 31C of the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004; or

(b)	has made an application to the construction occupations registrar for an interval metering work endorsement and is operating under the supervision of a person with an endorsement to supervise interval metering work while the application is not decided in accordance with Part 9 of the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004. 

Note 1	See s. 31C and 56-58 Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004. 

Note 2	The transition in Part 9 of the Regulation applies only if the electrical licence holder has made an application and the application is yet to be decided. See s. 56-58 Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004.

metering enclosure—see AS/NZS 3000

metering installation—see the National Electricity Rules, chapter 10 (Glossary).

national electricity rules means the National Electricity Rules made under the National Electricity (ACT) Law.

type 5 or type 6 meter means a type 5 or type 6 metering installation that meets the requirements described in the National Electricity Rules, chapter 7, schedule 7.2 (Types and Accuracy of Metering Installations) for the type of meter.