❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Energy regarding electricity meter error tolerances, testing frequency, results, and associated penalties. The Minister provides some information but requests further questions on notice for detailed test results.
AnsweredQoN 128Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY
METERS
128. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to
question without notice 76.
(1) What is
the total number of residential electricity meters subject to the error
tolerance prescribed in the Electricity Industry (Metering) Code 2012?
(2) How many
meters are tested each month?
(3) What were the
results of the tests in each of the past 12 months?
(4) How many
meters were above the error tolerance and how many were below in each of these
monthly tests?
(5) What
penalties apply if the error tolerance in the code is not met, and to whom do
these penalties apply?
METERS
128. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to
question without notice 76.
(1) What is
the total number of residential electricity meters subject to the error
tolerance prescribed in the Electricity Industry (Metering) Code 2012?
(2) How many
meters are tested each month?
(3) What were the
results of the tests in each of the past 12 months?
(4) How many
meters were above the error tolerance and how many were below in each of these
monthly tests?
(5) What
penalties apply if the error tolerance in the code is not met, and to whom do
these penalties apply?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) There are
approximately 1 016 000 residential revenue meters on the network. All
residential electricity revenue meters are subject to the error tolerance
prescribed in the Electricity Industry (Metering) Code 2012.
(2) The number
of meters tested each month varies. Over the past 12 months, Western Power has
tested 931 revenue meters. This includes tests initiated by Western Power as part
of compliance testing and tests following requests from customers via their
retailer.
(3)–(4)
Providing the information in the time required is not possible. I request that
the member place questions (3) and (4) on notice.
(5) Compliance
with the Electricity Industry (Metering) Code 2012 is a licence condition.
Therefore, under the Electricity Industry Act, the Economic Regulation
Authority can, firstly, issue an order to rectify the meter problems—a
section 32 notice. Secondly, if Western Power fails to address the notice, the
ERA can send a letter of reprimand. Thirdly, if the matter is still not
addressed, the ERA can order Western Power to pay a monetary penalty not
greater than $100 000. Fourthly, if the issue continues to exist—provided
the issue is material in terms of the operation of the licence as a whole and
the minister has provided Western Power written notice of the failure to comply—Western
Power's operating licences can be suspended and ultimately cancelled.
The penalties would apply to Western Power.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) There are
approximately 1 016 000 residential revenue meters on the network. All
residential electricity revenue meters are subject to the error tolerance
prescribed in the Electricity Industry (Metering) Code 2012.
(2) The number
of meters tested each month varies. Over the past 12 months, Western Power has
tested 931 revenue meters. This includes tests initiated by Western Power as part
of compliance testing and tests following requests from customers via their
retailer.
(3)–(4)
Providing the information in the time required is not possible. I request that
the member place questions (3) and (4) on notice.
(5) Compliance
with the Electricity Industry (Metering) Code 2012 is a licence condition.
Therefore, under the Electricity Industry Act, the Economic Regulation
Authority can, firstly, issue an order to rectify the meter problems—a
section 32 notice. Secondly, if Western Power fails to address the notice, the
ERA can send a letter of reprimand. Thirdly, if the matter is still not
addressed, the ERA can order Western Power to pay a monetary penalty not
greater than $100 000. Fourthly, if the issue continues to exist—provided
the issue is material in terms of the operation of the licence as a whole and
the minister has provided Western Power written notice of the failure to comply—Western
Power's operating licences can be suspended and ultimately cancelled.
The penalties would apply to Western Power.
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