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ESSENTIAL SERVICES COMMISSION ACT 2001


TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purpose  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Definitions  
   4.      Order declaring a regulated industry  
   5.      Interpretation and application of Act  
   6.      Crown to be bound  

   PART 2--ESSENTIAL SERVICES COMMISSION

   7.      Essential Services Commission  
   8.      Objective of the Commission  
   8A.     Matters which the Commission must have regard to  
   9.      Commission represents Crown  
   10.     Functions of the Commission  
   10AAA.  Reporting on regulated industry market structure and performance  
   10AA.   Commission's functions in relation to compliance and enforcement  
   10AAB.  Commission's functions in relation to the retail energy market  
   10A.    Commission's functions in relation to particular Basin water charges  
   10C.    Commission's functions in relation to renewable energy  
   10D.    Commission's functions in relation to energy efficiency  
   10E.    Commission's functions in relation to Councils  
   11.     Powers of the Commission  
   12.     Commission not subject to direction or control  
   13.     Commission may publish statements and guidelines  
   14.     Commission must publish Charter  
   15.     Consultation  
   16.     Memoranda of Understanding  
   17.     Membership of the Commission  
   18.     The Chairperson  
   19.     Tenure of office of Chairperson  
   20.     Acting appointment  
   21.     Additional Commissioners  
   22.     Tenure of office of additional Commissioners  
   23.     Payment of Chairperson and other Commissioners  
   23A.    Chief executive officer  
   24.     Staff  
   25.     Consultants  
   26.     Delegation  
   27.     Declaration of pecuniary interests  
   28.     Meetings of the Commission  
   29.     Conduct of particular inquiry or determination  
   30.     Determinations of the Commission  
   31.     Matters to be included in annual report  

   PART 3--SPECIFIC POWERS

   31A.    Definitions  
   32.     Price Regulation  
   33.     Price determinations  
   34.     Other regulatory powers  
   35.     General provisions relating to determinations  

   PART 3A--THIRD PARTY ACCESS REGIMES

   35A.    Object of Part  
   35B.    Application of Part  
   35C.    Pricing principles applying in respect of regulated access prices  
   35D.    Time limit for determinations relating to third party infrastructure access regimes  

   PART 4--INFORMATION GATHERING NOTICES

           Division 1--Information gathering notices

   36.     Information gathering notices—performing functions or exercising powers  
   37.     Information gathering notices—matters that constitute contravention of essential services requirement  
   38.     Form of information gathering notice  

           Division 2--Compliance with information gathering notices

   39.     Power to examine on oath or affirmation  
   39A.    Protection against self-incrimination—information gathering notices under section 36(1)  
   39B.    Protection against self-incrimination—information gathering notices under section 37(1)  
   39C.    Offence of coercion etc. against person who complies with information gathering notice  
   39D.    No liability for loss, damage or injury  

           Division 3--Documents

   39E.    Powers in relation to documents  
   39F.    Copies of seized documents  
   39G.    Retention and return of seized documents  
   39H.    Application for return of seized document  
   39I.    Magistrates' Court may extend 3-month period  

           Division 4--When Commission must not serve information gathering notice

   39J.    Matters about which the Commission must not serve information gathering notice  

   PART 4A--PROVISION OF INFORMATION RELATING TO REGULATED ENTITIES

   39K.    Provision of information relating to regulated entities  
   39L.    Matters about which the Commission must not gather information under this Part  

   PART 4B--INSPECTION POWERS

           Division 1--Inspectors

   39M.    Appointment of inspectors  
   39N.    Inspector's identification  
   39O.    Production of identification  

           Division 2--Entry and search of premises with consent

   39P.    Entry and search with consent  
   39Q.    Notice before entry and search  
   39R.    Acknowledgement of consent to entry and search  

           Division 3--Entry and search of premises with warrant

   39S.    Search warrants  
   39T.    Form and content of search warrants  
   39U.    Warrant may authorise the giving of a direction requiring assistance from person with knowledge of a computer  
   39V.    Announcement before entry  
   39W.    Details of warrant to be given to occupier  
   39X.    Seizure of documents or computers not mentioned in the warrant  

           Division 4--Documents and computers

   39Y.    Copies of seized documents  
   39Z.    Retention and return of seized documents or computers  
   39ZA.   Application for return of seized documents or computers  
   39ZB.   Magistrates' Court may extend 3-month period  

           Division 5--Offences

   39ZC.   Refusal or failure to comply with requirement  
   39ZD.   Protection against self-incrimination  
   39ZE.   Offence to hinder or obstruct inspector  
   39ZF.   Offence to impersonate inspector  

           Division 6--Miscellaneous

   39ZG.   Requirement to assist inspector during entry  
   39ZH.   Entry to be reported to the Commission  
   39ZI.   Register of exercise of powers of entry  
   39ZJ.   Complaints  

           Division 7--When inspector must not exercise search and seizure powers or apply for search warrants

   39ZK.   Matters about which inspectors must not exercise search and seizure powers or apply for search warrants  

   PART 4C--COURT MAY ORDER COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS

   39ZL.   Powers of court if requirement of Commission or inspector not complied with  

   PART 5--INQUIRIES AND REPORTS

   40.     Inquiry by Commission  
   41.     Minister may refer matter for inquiry  
   41A.    Minister may limit use of powers under section 37  
   42.     Notice of inquiry  
   43.     Conduct of inquiry  
   45.     Reports  
   46.     Special reports  

   PART 6--CODES OF PRACTICE

   47.     Power to make Codes of Practice  
   48.     Power to apply, adopt or incorporate  
   49.     Publication of Codes of Practice and amendments  
   50.     Automatic revocation of Codes of Practice after 10 years  

   PART 7--ENFORCEMENT

           Division 1--Contravention order and related orders

   53.     Contravention order  
   54.     Civil penalty orders  
   54A.    Civil penalty amount—energy licensees  
   54B.    Civil penalty amount—officers of energy licensees  
   54C.    Civil penalty amount—other regulated entities  
   54D.    Civil penalty amount—officers of other regulated entities  
   54E.    How other civil penalty amounts are to be provided  
   54F.    Adverse publicity orders  
   54G.    Orders requiring provision of services, education, etc.  
   54H.    Compensation and other orders  
   54I.    Proceedings under this Division are civil proceedings  
   54J.    Authority to commence proceedings  
   54K.    Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings  
   54L.    Criminal proceeding during proceeding for civil penalty order  
   54M.    Criminal proceedings commenced after proceeding for contravention order  
   54N.    Evidence given or produced during proceeding for contravention order  
   54O.    Conduct contravening more than one civil penalty requirement  
   54P.    Multiple contraventions of civil penalty requirements  
   54Q.    Multiple proceedings for contravention order to be heard together  
   54R.    Jurisdictional limit of Magistrates' Court does not apply to civil penalty order  

           Division 2--Penalty notice regime

   54S.    Power to serve a penalty notice  
   54T.    Notice penalties  
   54U.    How other notice penalty amounts are to be provided  
   54V.    Form of penalty notice  
   54W.    Commission must not commence certain proceedings while penalty notice on foot or until time for payment has expired  
   54X.    Late payment  
   54Y.    Withdrawal of penalty notice  
   54Z.    Refund of notice penalty  
   54ZA.   Payment expiates contravention  
   54ZB.   Payment not to have certain consequences  
   54ZC.   Multiple contraventions  

           Division 3--Enforceable undertakings

   54ZD.   Enforceable undertakings  
   54ZE.   Enforcement of enforceable undertakings  
   54ZF.   Monetary benefits order—contravention of enforceable undertaking  

           Division 4--Compliance notices

   54ZG.   Compliance notice  

           Division 5--Injunctions

   54ZH.   Injunctions  
   54ZI.   Consent injunctions  
   54ZJ.   Interim injunctions  
   54ZK.   Variation and discharge of injunctions  
   54ZL.   Undertakings as to damages and costs  

           Division 6--Declarations

   54ZM.   Declarations  

           Division 7--Other persons involved in contraventions of civil penalty requirements

   54ZN.   Persons involved in contraventions  

           Division 8--Register of Enforcement Action

   54ZO.   Register of Enforcement Action  

   PART 7A--FUNDS

           Division 1--Essential Services Commission Enforcement Fund

   54ZP.   Essential Services Commission Enforcement Fund  
   54ZQ.   Payments into the Essential Services Commission Enforcement Fund  
   54ZR.   Payments out of the Essential Services Commission Enforcement Fund  
   54ZS.   Recovery of amounts ordered to be paid into the Essential Services Commission Enforcement Fund  

           Division 2--Essential Services Commission Operating Fund

   54ZT.   Essential Services Commission Operating Fund  
   54ZU.   Payments into the Essential Services Commission Operating Fund  
   54ZV.   Payments out of the Essential Services Commission Operating Fund  

   PART 7B--REVIEW BY VCAT

   55.     VCAT review  
   56.     Proceedings for review by VCAT  
   56A.    Commission to give effect to VCAT decisions  

   PART 7C--GENERAL

           Division 1--Personal liability and contraventions by bodies corporate and others

   60.     Personal liability  
   60A.    Contraventions of this Act and relevant legislation by bodies corporate  
   60B.    Conduct by officers, employees or agents  

           Division 2--Disclosure of information, information sharing and offences

   60C.    Restriction on disclosure of confidential information  
   60D.    Commission must not disclose exempt freedom of information documents  
   60E.    Information sharing arrangements  
   61.     Disclosure of information an offence  
   61A.    Offence to give false or misleading information or documents  
   61B.    Monetary benefits order—false and misleading information offence to Commission  

           Division 3--Miscellaneous

   62.     Proceedings  
   62A.    Who can commence proceedings for offences?  
   62B.    Determining amount to be paid under monetary benefits orders and certain civil penalty orders  
   62C.    Court may grant relief from liability  
   63.     Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
   64.     Service of documents  
   65.     Regulations  
   66.      Review  

   PART 7D--AMENDMENTS CONSEQUENTIAL TO REPEAL OF PART 1B OF THE WATER INDUSTRY ACT 1994

   66A.    Commencement of Part  
   66B.    Functions of Commission—Essential Services Commission Act 2001  
   66C.    Repeal of section 10A  
   66D.    Repeal of Part  

   PART 8--TRANSITIONAL

   67.     Repeal of the Office of the Regulator-General Act 1994  
   68.     Commission is successor in law  
   69.     Transitional provision—uncompleted appeals  
   70.     Enforcement  
   71.     Enforcement orders  
   72.     Energy industry penalty notices  
   73.     Information gathering  
   74.     Information sharing  
   75.     Chief executive officer  
   76.     Codes of Practice  
   77.     Transitional civil penalty requirements—Energy Retail Code  
   78.     Transitional civil penalty requirements—Electricity Distribution Code  
   79.     Transitional civil penalty requirements—Gas Distribution System Code  
           ENDNOTES


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