Australian Capital Territory
Utilities (Non-franchise electricity customers)
Declaration 2002 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2002—226
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This instrument is the mechanism by which full retail contestability in electricity is to be affected in the ACT.
The Utilities Act 2000 regulates the provision of utility services in the Australian Capital Territory.
Section 18 of the Utilities Act 2000 provides that the Minister may declare certain classes of people as ‘Non-Franchised customers’.
Non-Franchised customers can choose their electricity supplier.
A Declaration under section 18 of the Utilities Act 2000 was made on 21 April 2001 by which customers consuming more than 100MWh of electricity at a premises were to become Non-Franchised by 1 July 2002.
This amendment to that Declaration is designed to continue that arrangement, as well as provide the means by which smaller customers may enter the competitive market.  Those smaller customers that choose not to become Non-Franchised customers are afforded a continuation of the current situation whereby ActewAGL guarantees them supply on a standard customer contract.