Kota Kinabalu: As for the Electricity Supply 2024 Bill, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said it outlines provisions for licensing any electrical installation, controlling any electrical installation, plant and equipment about matters on people’s safety and the efficient use of electricity, and for purposes related to it.
It also stipulates that electricity must be supplied at reasonable prices.
“On Jan 10, 2023, the State Government effectively assumed control over the onshore gas supply regulatory authority. This regulatory power is given to the Sabah Energy Commission or ECoS,” said Hajiji.
He said this transfer of regulatory powers continues with the acquisition of the power supply regulatory function from the Federal Government in line with the demands under the MA63 Agreement.
SPONSORED CONTENT Sabah International Convention Centre’s Big Sabah Sale a big hit Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah International Convention Centre’s (SICC) Big Sabah Sale which concluded on Sunday saw a good response with about 20,000 visitors during the three-day extravaganza. . Read more With effect from January 3, 2024, the Federal Government consented to transfer to the State Government the authority to control the electricity supply industry.
As a result, the Electricity Supply Bill 2024 was introduced on Wednesday to provide the government the ability to control the supply of electricity, effective Jan 3, 2024, the day of submission.
The Electricity Supply Bill 2024 is made up of 14 Parts and 112 Clauses.
Part 1 has two Clause; short title and commencement and interpretation.
Part 2 describes the functions and roles of ECoS in executing authority on electricity supply activities.
Part 3 has four Clauses; contribution by licensee, electricity fund, investment and accounts.
Part 4 has 24 Clauses covering a variety of topics, including licencing requirements, licence transfers, licence obligations, codes, guidelines, or instructions that the licensee must follow, annual licensee account maintenance, the amount of compensation that the licensee must pay to any party, licensee liability, restrictions on using the licence other than for the specified use, equipment exemption from detention and distress (eviction/confiscation), registration and installation.
Part 5 addresses competent control.
Part 6 has four Clauses outlining the criteria and prerequisites as well as the registration process for individuals offering services linked to the economic use of electricity.
Part 7 has 14 Clauses that provide clarification on the following topics: licensee’s obligation to supply; exemption from providing electricity; ECoS’s power to set tariffs and charges; licensee’s rights to impose surcharges, expenses, collateral, and refunds; supply agreements and special agreements; ECoS’s power to determine and notify disputes and make decisions regarding them; and ECoS’s power to set maximum prices for electricity resale and electricity supply charges.
Part 8 has one Clause that addresses reporting of accidents or fires.
Part 9 has seven Clauses that address the security of facilities and equipment. This section essentially describes the ECoS’s ability to conduct inspections to verify that the equipment complies with the standards set forth by the organisation, as well as the licensee’s, owner’s or operator’s responsibility for safety and any unauthorised work or activity.
Part 10 has two Clauses that outline the process for looking into disputes that may arise between a licensee and an authorised official, or between the management and the owner of any equipment or installation.
Part 11 has seven Clauses that outlines the offences and associated punishments.
Part 12 has 18 Clauses that describes the authority to carry out the Bill’s enforcement.
Part 13 has 25 Clauses which covers a variety of topics including: corporate body offences; compounding of offences; prosecution; general penalties; auditing of licensees or owners or operators of non-domestic electrical installations; establishing installation or equipment standards; electrical interference with government or federal government signalling lines; procedures in case of dangerous defects in the installation or its parts; proscription against hiring children; development of codes by ECoS and compliance with them; guidelines or directives by ECoS; emergency special powers; declaration of water resources; obligation to provide information; and the power to make regulations.
Part 14 has two Clauses that deals with savings and transitional, as well as the federal government’s executive authority to finish ongoing energy infrastructure projects and guarantee their continued implementation.
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