Clause 20

Where any premises have been disconnected by a gas transporter in exercise of the powers under this Act or pursuant to a valid and enforceable contractual right —

any person who, without the consent of the gas transporter, re-connects the supply of gas to those premises shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; and

the gas transporter may again disconnect the premises.(2) Where the supply of gas to any premises has been discontinued by a gas shipper or gas retailer in exercise of the powers under this Act or pursuant to a valid and enforceable contractual right —

any person who, without the consent of the gas shipper or gas retailer, as the case may be, restores the supply of gas to those premises shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; and

the gas transporter whose pipeline is connected to those premises (whether such pipeline is owned by, or under the management or control of, him) may disconnect the premises.Failure to notify connection to or disconnection from gas pipeline, etc.50.—

No person shall —

connect —

any meter with a gas pipeline;

any meter with an internal pipe connected to a gas pipeline; or

any internal pipe to a gas pipeline,through which gas is conveyed to any premises by a gas transporter; or

disconnect such meter or internal pipe,unless he has given 48 hours’ notice in the prescribed form of his intention to do so —

in a case where gas is supplied to the premises by a relevant gas shipper or relevant gas retailer, to the gas shipper or gas retailer; and

in any other case, to the gas transporter.(2) Subject to subsection (3), a notice under subsection (1) shall contain —

details of the time and place of the proposed connection or disconnection; and

such other information as may be prescribed.(3) In so far as it is not reasonably practicable for a notice under subsection (1) to contain any information required by subsection (2)(b), it shall be a sufficient compliance with that requirement under subsection (2)(b) if the information is given to the relevant gas shipper, relevant gas retailer or gas transporter, as the case may be, within 48 hours after the connection or disconnection is effected.(4) Where under this section any meter through which gas has been supplied to any premises is completely disconnected, that is to say, is disconnected both from the gas pipeline and from all other pipes within the premises, the person making the disconnection shall, except in so far as it is not reasonably practicable for him to do so —

ascertain the name and address of the owner of the meter; and

inform that owner of the disconnection and of the address at which the meter will be available for collection.(5) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.Proper use of gas

his premises may be disconnected by the gas transporter; or

the supply of gas to his premises may be discontinued by the relevant gas shipper or relevant gas retailer.No obligation to restore supply where consumer in default52.—

This section applies where —

a consumer’s premises have been disconnected by a gas transporter under this Act; or

the supply of gas to a consumer’s premises has been discontinued by a gas shipper or gas retailer under this Act.(2) The gas transporter shall not be under any obligation to re-connect the consumer’s premises, or the gas shipper or gas retailer shall not be under any obligation to restore the supply of gas to the consumer’s premises, as the case may be, until —

the consumer is no longer the owner or occupier of the premises; or

the consumer —

has made good the default, or remedied the matter, in consequence of which the premises were disconnected or the supply of gas to such premises was discontinued; and

has paid the reasonable expenses of disconnecting and re-connecting the premises or of discontinuing and restoring the supply of gas to the premises, as the case may be.”.