South Australia: Water Industry Act 2012 (SA)

South Australia Water Industry Act 2012 An Act to facilitate planning in connection with water demand and supply; to regulate the water industry, including by providing for the establishment of a licensing regime and providing for the regulation of prices, customer service standards, technical standards for water and sewerage infrastructure and installations and plumbing, and by providing performance monitoring of the water industry; to provide for other measures relevant to the use and management of water; and for other purposes. Contents Part 1—Preliminary 1 Short title 2 Commencement 3 Objects 4 Interpretation 5 Interaction with other Acts 5A Provisions related to operation of Part 9A Part 2—Water planning 6 Water planning Part 3—Administration Division 1—Functions and powers of Commission 7 Functions and powers of Commission Division 2—Technical Regulator 8 Technical Regulator 9 Functions of Technical Regulator 10 Delegation 11 Technical Regulator's power to require information 12 Obligation to preserve confidentiality 13 Annual report Division 3—Advisory committees 14 Consumer advisory committee 15 Technical advisory committee 16 Other advisory committees Part 4—Water industry Division 1—Declaration as regulated industry 17 Declaration as regulated industry Division 2—Licensing of water industry entities 18 Requirement for licence 19 Application for licence 20 Consideration of application 21 Licences may be held jointly 22 Authority conferred by licence 23 Term of licence 24 Licence fees and returns 25 Licence conditions 27 Offence to contravene licence conditions 28 Variation of licence 29 Transfer of licence 30 Consultation with consumer bodies 31 Notice of licence decisions 32 Surrender of licence 33 Suspension or cancellation of licences 34 Register of licences Division 3—Price regulation 35 Price regulation Division 4—Standard terms and conditions for retail services 36 Standard terms and conditions for retail services Division 5—Customer hardship policies 37 Customer hardship policies Division 6—Commission's powers to take over operations 38 Power to take over operations 39 Appointment of operator Division 7—Related matters 40 Ministerial directions Part 5—Powers and duties relating to land and infrastructure Division 1—Water industry officers 41 Appointment of water industry officers 42 Conditions of appointment 43 Identity cards Division 2—Management of land and infrastructure 44 Power to enter land to conduct investigations 45 Power to carry out work on land 46 Acquisition of land 47 Infrastructure does not merge with land 48 Requirement to connect to infrastructure Part 6—Protection and use of infrastructure, equipment and water and powers in relation to installations Division 1—Protection of infrastructure, equipment and services 49 Encroachments 50 Protection of infrastructure and equipment 51 Notice of work that may affect water/sewerage infrastructure 52 Duty to give notice before paving a road etc 53 Unlawful abstraction, removal or diversion of water or sewage 54 Water meters 55 Discharge of unauthorised material into water infrastructure 56 Discharge of unauthorised material into sewerage infrastructure 57 Work to be carried out by owner at requirement of water industry entity with respect to sewerage infrastructure 58 Power to disconnect drains or to restrict services Division 2—Protection and use of water supply 59 Power to restrict or discontinue water supply 60 Power to require the use of devices to reduce flow 61 Power to test and protect water Division 3—Powers in relation to infrastructure and installations 62 Entry to land and related powers 63 Disconnection etc if entry refused 64 Disconnection in an emergency 65 Special legislation not affected Part 7—Technical and safety issues 66 Standards 67 Performance of regulated work 68 Responsibilities of water industry entity 69 Responsibilities of customers 70 Prohibition of sale or use of unsuitable items 71 Public warning statements about unsuitable components, practices etc Part 8—Enforcement Division 1—Appointment of authorised officers 72 Appointment of authorised officers 73 Conditions of appointment 74 Identity cards Division 2—General powers of authorised officers 75 Power of entry 76 Inspection powers Division 3—Specific powers in relation to infrastructure and equipment 77 Disconnection of supply 78 Power to make infrastructure etc safe Division 4—Related matters 79 Power to require information or documents 80 Enforcement notices 81 Self‑incrimination 82 Warning notices and assurances 83 Injunctions Part 9—Reviews 84 Review of decisions by Commission or Technical Regulator 85 Review by Tribunal 86 Minister's power to intervene Part 9A—Third party access regime Division 1—Preliminary 86A Interpretation 86B Application Division 2—Regulator 86C Appointment of regulator 86D Report to Minister Division 3—Information to facilitate access proposals 86E Segregation of accounts and records 86F Information brochure 86G Specific information to assist proponent to formulate proposal 86H Information to be provided on non‑discriminatory basis Division 4—Negotiation of access 86I Access proposal 86J Duty to negotiate in good faith 86K Existence of dispute Division 5—Conciliation 86L Settlement of dispute by conciliation 86M Voluntary and compulsory conferences Division 6—Reference of dispute to arbitration 86N Power to refer dispute to arbitration 86O Application of Commercial Arbitration Act 2011 86P Principles to be taken into account 86Q Parties to the arbitration 86R Representation 86S Participation by other parties 86T Arbitrator's duty to act expeditiously 86U Hearings to be in private 86V Procedure on arbitration 86W Procedural powers of arbitrator 86X Giving of relevant documents to the arbitrator 86Y Power to obtain information and documents 86Z Confidentiality of information 86ZA Proponent's right to terminate arbitration before an award is made 86ZB Arbitrator's power to terminate arbitration 86ZC Time limit for arbitration 86ZD Formal requirements related to awards 86ZE Consent awards 86ZF Proponent's option to withdraw from award 86ZG Termination or variation of award 86ZH Costs 86ZI Contractual remedies 86ZJ Appeal on question of law 86ZK Injunctive remedies 86ZL Compensation Division 7—Related matters 86ZM Confidential information 86ZN Access by agreement 86ZO Copies of access contracts to be supplied to regulator 86ZP Regulated operator's duty to supply information and documents 86ZQ Unfair discrimination 86ZR Review of Part Part 10—Miscellaneous 87 Consumer Advocacy and Research Fund 88 Minister's power to require information 89 Delegation by Minister 90 Consultation between agencies 91 Seizure and dismantling of infrastructure 92 Water conservation measures 95 Immunity 96 Impersonation of officials etc 97 Obstruction of officials etc 98 Fire plugs 99 Report on installation of separate meters on properties 100 Obstruction of works by occupiers 101 False or misleading information 102 Offences 103 General defence 104 Offences by bodies corporate 105 Continuing offences 106 Order for payment of profit from contravention 107 Statutory declarations 108 Power of exemption 109 Application and issue of warrant 110 Urgent situations 111 Evidence 112 Service 113 Ventilators 114 Protection of tenants and lessees of residential premises 115 Regulations 116 Review of Act Schedule 2—Transitional provisions Part 10—Transitional provisions Division 1—Preliminary 20 Preliminary Division 2—Special provisions relating to repeal of Sewerage Act 1929 21 Interpretation 22 Rates—transitional financial year 23 Rates—related provisions 24 Notices and authorisations 25 Vesting of undertaking in SA Water 26 Capital contribution where capacity of undertaking increased 27 Authorisation to discharge material into sewerage infrastructure 28 Requirement to carry out work 29 Power to disconnect drains 30 Exemption Division 3—Special provisions relating to repeal of Water Conservation Act 1936 31 Interpretation 32 Rates and charges—transitional financial year 33 Water rates—related provisions 34 Notices and authorisations 35 Land etc vested in Minister 36 Agreements to bind subsequent owners and occupiers 37 Water conservation reserves Division 4—Special provisions relating to repeal of Waterworks Act 1932 38 Interpretation 39 Rates and charges—transitional financial year 40 Rates and charges—related provisions 41 Notices and authorisations 42 Vesting of waterworks etc in SA Water 43 Fire plugs and pipes 44 Exemption 45 Capital contribution where capacity of waterworks increased Division 5—Other matters 46 Approved schemes 47 References to rates 48 Regulations Legislative history The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows: Part 1—Preliminary 1—Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Industry Act 2012. 2—Commencement (1) This Act will come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation. (2) Sections 18 and 26 must be brought into operation on the same day. 3—Objects The objects of this Act are— (a) to promote planning associated with the availability of water within the State to respond to demand within the community; and (b) to promote efficiency, competition and innovation in the water industry; and (c) to provide mechanisms for the transparent setting of prices within the water industry and to facilitate pricing structures that reflect the true value of services provided by participants in that industry; and (d) to provide for and enforce proper standards of reliability and quality in connection with the water industry, including in relation to technical standards for water and sewerage infrastructure and installations and plumbing; and (e) to protect the interests of consumers of water and sewerage services; and (f) to promote measures to ensure that water is managed wisely; and (g) to promote the economically efficient use and operation of, and investment in, significant infrastructure so as to promote effective competition in upstream and downstream markets. 4—Interpretation (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears— adjacent land, in relation to other land, means land that abuts on the other land; authorised officer means a person appointed under Part 8 as an authorised officer; Commission means the Essential Services Commission established under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002; condition includes a limitation or restriction; connection point means— (a) the point at which a customer's pipes connect with any water infrastructure or sewerage infrastructure; or (b) in any prescribed circumstances—such other point as may be prescribed by the regulations; consumer means a person supplied with retail services as a consumer or user of those services; contravention includes a failure to comply; council means a council within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1999; customer means a person who owns land in relation to which a retail service is provided and includes— (a) where the context requires, a person seeking the provision of a retail service; and (b) in prescribed circumstances—a person supplied with retail services as a consumer or user of those services (without limiting the application of this definition to owners of land); and (c) a person of a class declared by the regulations to be customers; designated customers—see subsections (2) and (3); draining work means the installation, alteration, repair, maintenance or disconnection of sanitary drains; drains—a drain may include a pressurised system for the removal of sewage; equipment includes— (a) pipes, fittings and apparatus; and (b) any component of any equipment; Health Department means the administrative unit of the Public Service that is, under a Minister, responsible for the administration of the South Australian Public Health Act 2011; industry ombudsman scheme means the scheme applying for the purposes of section 25(1)(h); infrastructure includes— (a) pipes, conduits and associated fittings and apparatus; (b) pumping stations; (c) storage tanks; (d) bores and wells; (e) dams, reservoirs and wetlands; (f) embankments, walls, channels, drains, drainage holes or other forms of works or earthworks; (g) treatment facilities; (h) testing or monitoring equipment; (i) roads and other works to provide for the movement of vehicles or equipment or to provide access to land, works or other forms of infrastructure; (j) bridges and culverts; (k) buildings and structures; (l) components of any infrastructure; (m) other items brought within the ambit of this definition by the regulations; land includes— (a) an estate or interest in land (including an easement); or (b) a right or power over or in respect of land; Minister's Department means the administrative unit of the Public Service that is, under the Minister, responsible for the administration of this Act; occupier of land or a place means a person who has, or is entitled to, lawful possession or control of the land or place; owner of land means— (a) if land is unalienated Crown land—the Crown; or (b) if the land is alienated from the Crown by grant in fee simple—the owner of the estate in fee simple; or (c) if the land is held from the Crown by lease or licence—the lessee or licensee, and includes an occupier of the land; plumbing means— (a) water plumbing work, sanitary plumbing work or draining work on the customer's side of any connection point; or (b) any other work brought within the ambit of this definition by the regulations; retail service means a service constituted by— (a) the sale and supply of water to a person for use (and not for resale other than in prescribed circumstances (if any)) where the water is to be conveyed by a reticulated system; or (b) the sale and supply of sewerage services for the removal of sewage, (even if the service is not actually used) but does not include any service, or any service of a class, excluded from the ambit of this definition by the regulations; River Murray has the same meaning as in the River Murray Act 2003; road means a street, road or thoroughfare to which public access is available on a continuous or substantially continuous basis by the use of vehicles or as pedestrians or both and includes— (a) a bridge, viaduct or subway; or (b) an alley, laneway or walkway; sanitary drain means pipes and equipment to collect and convey sewage from a sanitary plumbing installation to an on‑site treatment facility or a sewerage or effluent disposal system; sanitary plumbing work means the installation, alteration, repair, maintenance or disconnection of pipes or equipment to receive and convey sewage to sanitary drains (including associated plumbing ventilation equipment); SA Water means South Australian Water Corporation established under the South Australian Water Corporation Act 1994; sewage includes any form of waste that may be appropriately removed or dealt with through the use of a sewerage service; sewerage infrastructure means— (a) any infrastructure that is, or is to be, used for— (i) the collection or storage of sewage and includes the connection point; or (ii) the conveyance or reticulation of sewage; or (iii) the treatment of sewage, including any outfall pipe or other work that stores or conveys water leaving infrastructure used for the treatment of sewage; or (b) any other infrastructure used in connection with sewage and brought within the ambit of this definition by the regulations, but does not include— (c) any pipe, fitting or apparatus that is situated upstream of a customer's connection point; or (d) infrastructure situated entirely within one site and not connected to any other infrastructure situated within another site; or (e) any other infrastructure used in connection with sewage that is excluded from the ambit of this definition by the regulations; sewerage service means— (a) a service constituted by the collection, storage, treatment or conveyance of sewage through the use of a reticulated system; or (b) any other service, or any service of a class, brought within the ambit of this definition by the regulations; site means an area of land constituting a single land holding; stormwater drain means pipes and equipment to collect and convey stormwater to a public stormwater disposal system; Technical Regulator means the person holding the office of Technical Regulator under Part 3; Tribunal means the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal established under the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013; water includes rainwater, stormwater, desalinated water, recycled water and water that may include any material or impurities, but does not include sewage; water industry means any operations associated with the provision of water services or sewerage services; water industry entity means— (a) a person licensed under Part 4; or (b) a person recognised by the Minister under subsection (4) as a water industry entity for the purposes of this Act, and includes (where the context requires) a person who has been licensed under Part 4 whose licence has been suspended or cancelled or has expired or a person who is to be treated as a water industry entity under the regulations; water industry officer means a person appointed under Part 5 as a water industry officer; water infrastructure means— (a) any infrastructure that is, or is to be, used for— (i) the collection or storage of water, including a dam or reservoir, a water production plant or a wetland; or (ii) the treatment of water; or (iii) the conveyance or reticulation of water and includes the connection point; or (b) any other infrastructure used in connection with water and brought within the ambit of this definition by the regulations, but does not include— (c) any pipe, fitting or apparatus that is situated downstream of a customer's connection point; or (d) any pipe, fitting or apparatus that is situated upstream of a customer's connection point to a stormwater drain; or (e) infrastructure situated entirely within one site and not connected to any other infrastructure situated within another site; or (f) any other infrastructure used in connection with water that is excluded from the ambit of this definition by the regulations; water plumbing work means the installation, alteration, repair, maintenance or disconnection of pipes or equipment (including water heaters) to be connected directly or indirectly to a water supply system; water service means— (a) a service constituted by the collection, storage, production, treatment, conveyance, reticulation or supply of water; or (b) any other service, or any service of a class, brought within the ambit of this definition by the regulations; water/sewerage infrastructure means water infrastructure or sewerage infrastructure (or both). (2) A reference in this Act to designated customers, or designated classes of customers (or customers of a designated class), is a reference to customers, or classes of customers, designated by the Minister by notice in the Gazette. (3) The Minister may— (a) in acting under subsection (2), make different designations with respect to different sections of this Act; (b) by further notice in the Gazette, vary or revoke a previous notice under subsection (2). (4) The Minister may, for the purposes of the definition of water industry entity, by notice in the Gazette— (a) recognise a person within the water industry as a water industry entity for the purposes of this Act, or specified provisions of this Act; (b) vary or revoke the recognition of a particular person under paragraph (a). (5) For the purposes of this Act, a right to the provision of a particular service by a water industry entity may be taken to constitute the supply of a service by that entity. 5—Interaction with other Acts (1) Subject to this section, this Act is in addition to and does not limit or derogate from the provisions of any other Act. (2) This Act does not apply to or in relation to— (a) an irrigation trust, or any services provided or infrastructure held by an irrigation trust, under the Irrigation Act 2009; (b) the Renmark Irrigation Trust, or any services provided or infrastructure held by the Renmark Irrigation Trust, under the Renmark Irrigation Trust Act 2009; (c) any other person providing irrigation services designated by the Minister by notice in the Gazette, except to the extent prescribed by the regulations. (3) The Minister may, by further notice, vary or revoke a previous notice under subsection (2)(c). (4) This Act does not apply to any person or entity, or any circumstance, excluded from the operation of this Act by the regulations. 5A—Provisions related to operation of Part 9A (1) The Governor may, by proclamation made under this subsection, declare the extent to which Part 9A will apply in relation to— (a) specified water infrastructure or sewerage infrastructure, or a specified class of such infrastructure; or (b) specified infrastructure services, or a specified class of such services. (2) A proclamation under subsection (1) will have effect according to its terms (including so as to limit the operation of Part 9A or a proclamation made under that Part). (3) The Governor may, by proclamation, vary or revoke a proclamation under subsection (1). (4) Subject to subsection (5), the provisions of Part 9A are declared to be Commonwealth water legislation displacement provisions for the purposes of section 250D of the Water Act 2007 of the Commonwealth in relation to the operation of Part 4 Division 1 of that Act. (5) Subsection (4) has operation if or when the Governor, by proclamation made under this subsection, declares that that subsection takes effect as a law of the State. Part 2—Water planning 6—Water planning (1) The Minister must prepare and maintain a document to be called the State Water Demand and Supply Statement. (2) The State Water Demand and Supply Statement must— (a) assess the state of South Australia's water resources and the extent of water supplies available within the State; and (b) assess current and future demand for water within the State; and (c) outline policies, plans and strategies relevant to ensuring that the State's water supplies are secure and reliable and are able to sustain economic growth within the State. (3) The State Water Demand and Supply Statement may— (a) address any other matter considered to be relevant by the Minister; and (b) take into account any policy, plan or strategy determined to be relevant by the Minister. (4) The Minister must comprehensively review the State Water Demand and Supply Statement at least once in every 5 years. (5) The Minister may amend the State Water Demand and Supply Statement at any time. (6) The Minister must, in relation to a proposal— (a) to create the State Water Demand and Supply Statement; or (b) to undertake a comprehensive review of the State Water Demand and Supply Statement, invite interested persons to make written representations on the proposal in such manner, and within a period, specified by the Minister. (7) The Minister must, within 14 days after the finalisation of the State Water Demand and Supply Statement, or the finalisation of a comprehensive review of the State Water Demand and Supply Statement, cause copies of the statement (or the Statement as revised) to be delivered to the President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly. (8) The Minister must— (a) make appropriate provision for the publication of the State Water Demand and Supply Statement; and (b) ensure that copies of the State Water Demand and Supply Statement are reasonably available for inspection (without charge) and purchase by the public at places determined by the Minister; and (c) ensure that notice of any amendment to the State Water Demand and Supply Statement is published in the Gazette within a reasonable time after the amendment is made. (9) The Minister must, on or before 31 March in each year, prepare a report that relates to the State Water Demand and Supply Statement and that— (a) provides information about the water demand and supply status of the various regions of the State; and (b) identifies and analyses the impacts of any emerging risks or significant issues associated with the State's water supplies; and (c) reports on such other matters as the Minister thinks fit. (10) The Minister must, immediately after the finalisation of the report under subsection (9), cause copies of the report to be delivered to the President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly. (11) When the President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly receive a statement or report under this section, the President and the Speaker must— (a) immediately cause the statement or report to be published; and (b) lay the statement or report before their respective Houses at the earliest opportunity. (12) If the President of the Legislative Council or the Speaker of the House of Assembly is absent at the time that a statement or report is delivered to the Parliament under this section, the Clerk of the relevant House will receive the statement or report on behalf of the President or the Speaker (as the case may be) (and the statement or report will then be taken to have been received by the President or the Speaker). (13) If a statement or report is received by the President of the Legislative Council or the Speaker of the House of Assembly at a time when Parliament is not sitting, the statement or report will be taken to have been published under subsection (11) at the expiration of 1 clear day after the day of receipt of the report. (14) A statement or report will, when published under subsection (11), be taken for the purposes of any other Act or law to be a report of the Parliament published under the authority of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. (15) A statement or report under this section is an expression of policy and does not in itself affect rights or liabilities (whether of a substantive, procedural or other nature). Part 3—Administration Division 1—Functions and powers of Commission 7—Functions and powers of Commission (1) The Commission has (in addition to the Commission's functions and powers under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002)— (a) the licensing, price regulation and other functions and powers conferred by this Act; and (b) any other functions and powers conferred by regulation under this Act. (2) If water industry entities are required by licence condition to participate in an ombudsman scheme, the Commission must, in performing licensing functions under this Act, liaise with the ombudsman appointed under the scheme. Division 2—Technical Regulator 8—Technical Regulator (1) There is to be a Technical Regulator. (2) The Technical Regulator will be appointed by the Minister. (3) The office of Technical Regulator may be held in conjunction with a position in the Public Service. (4) The Minister may assign an employee in the Public Service to act as the Technical Regulator— (a) during a vacancy in the office of Technical Regulator; or (b) when the Technical Regulator is absent from, or unable to discharge, official duties. 9—Functions of Technical Regulator The Technical Regulator has the following functions: (a) to develop technical standards in connection with the water industry; (b) to monitor and regulate technical standards with respect to— (i) water and sewerage installations and associated equipment, products and materials (including on the customer's side of any connection point); and (ii) plumbing; (c) to provide advice in relation to safety or technical standards— (i) in the water industry to the Commission at the Commission's request; and (ii) in the plumbing industry; (d) any other function assigned to the Technical Regulator under this or any other Act or conferred by regulation under this Act. 10—Delegation (1) The Technical Regulator may delegate a function or power conferred on the Technical Regulator under this Act— (a) to a particular person or body; or (b) to the person for the time being occupying a particular office or position. (2) A function or power delegated under this section may, if the instrument of delegation so provides, be further delegated. (3) A delegation— (a) may be subject to conditions or limitations specified in the instrument of delegation; and (b) does not derogate from the power of the Technical Regulator to act in a matter; and (c) is revocable at will by the Technical Regulator. (4) The Technical Regulator must keep a public register of delegations under this section. (5) In any legal proceedings an apparently genuine certificate, purportedly given by the Technical Regulator, containing particulars of a delegation under this section, will, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be accepted as proof that the delegation was made in accordance with the particulars. 11—Technical Regulator's power to require information (1) The Technical Regulator may, by written notice, require a person to give the Technical Regulator, within a time stated in the notice (which must be reasonable), the information in the person's possession that the Technical Regulator reasonably requires for the performance of the Technical Regulator's functions (whether under this Act or any other Act). (2) A person required to give information under this section must provide the information within the time stated in the notice. Maximum penalty: $20 000. (3) A person is not required to give information under this section if the information might tend to incriminate the person of an offence. 12—Obligation to preserve confidentiality (1) The Technical Regulator must preserve the confidentiality of information gained by the Technical Regulator (including information gained by an authorised officer under this Act) that— (a) could affect the competitive position of a water industry entity or other person; or (b) is commercially sensitive for some other reason. (2) Despite subsection (1), the Technical Regulator may disclose confidential information in the following circumstances: (a) as reasonably required in connection with the administration or enforcement of this Act (including to the Minister, the Commission and persons assisting the Commission), or as otherwise related to the performance of the Technical Regulator's functions (whether under this Act or any other Act); (b) to a person concerned in the administration or enforcement of another law of the State, or a law of the Commonwealth or another State or Territory of the Commonwealth, for the purposes related to the administration or operation of that other law; (c) to a government agency or instrumentality of this State, the Commonwealth or another State or Territory of the Commonwealth for purposes related to the performance of its functions (or to a person acting on behalf of such a government agency or instrumentality); (d) with the consent of the person who gave the information or to whom the information relates; (e) as required by a court or tribunal constituted by law; (f) as authorised by the Minister. (3) Information classified by the Technical Regulator as confidential is not liable to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 1991. 13—Annual report (1) The Technical Regulator must, within 3 months after the end of each financial year, deliver to the Minister a report on the Technical Regulator's operations during that financial year. (2) The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament within 12 sitting days after receipt of the report. Division 3—Advisory committees 14—Consumer advisory committee (1) The Commission must establish an advisory committee comprising representatives of consumers (the consumer advisory committee)— (a) to provide advice to the Commission in relation to the performance of its licensing functions under Part 4; and (b) to provide advice to the Commission, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Commission, on any other matter relating to the water industry. (2) Despite subsection (1), the consumer advisory committee will, if the Commission so determines, be the same committee as the committee of that name established under Division 4 of Part 2 of the Electricity Act 1996 and have the functions referred to in subsection (1) in addition to its functions under that Division. 15—Technical advisory committee The Technical Regulator must establish an advisory committee (the technical advisory committee) including representatives of— (a) water industry entities; and (b) contractor and employee associations involved in the water industry; and (c) persons involved in the administration of public health legislation; and (d) local government; and (e) other entities determined by the Technical Regulator, to provide advice to the Technical Regulator, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Technical Regulator, on any matter relating to the functions of the Technical Regulator. 16—Other advisory committees The Minister, the Commission or the Technical Regulator may establish other advisory committees to provide advice on specified aspects of the administration of this Act. Part 4—Water industry Division 1—Declaration as regulated industry 17—Declaration as regulated industry The water industry is declared to constitute a regulated industry for the purposes of the Essential Services Commission Act 2002. Division 2—Licensing of water industry entities 18—Requirement for licence (1) A person must not provide a retail service unless the person holds a licence under this Part authorising the relevant services, operation or activity. Maximum penalty: $1 000 000. (2) SA Water is entitled by the force of this section to hold a non‑transferable licence under this Part appropriate to the services, operations or activities provided, carried on or undertaken by it from time to time. (3) In connection with the operation of subsection (2)— (a) the Commission must issue SA Water with the appropriate licence or licences; and (b) the Commission must comply with any requirements specified by the Minister as to the terms and conditions of a licence and rights conferred by a licence. (4) The requirements of the Minister as to the conditions of a licence under subsection (3) must be consistent with the provisions of this Act as to such conditions. (5) To avoid doubt, a licence under subsection (3) cannot be transferred, suspended or cancelled. (6) In connection with the operation of this section— (a) the Minister must establish a set of community service obligations that require SA Water to continue to provide services within those areas of the State in which services are provided immediately before the commencement of subsection (2) unless the Minister grants an approval for the discontinuance of any such service; and (b) if the Minister grants an approval under paragraph (a), the Minister must immediately prepare a report in relation to the matter and cause copies of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament within 6 sitting days after the approval is given. 19—Application for licence (1) An application for the issue of a licence must— (a) be made to the Commission in a form approved by the Commission; and (b) contain the information specified in the form. (2) The applicant must pay to the Commission an application fee fixed by the Treasurer of an amount that the Treasurer considers appropriate to meet the reasonable costs of determining the application. (3) The Commission may, as the Commission considers appropriate, accept a single application from an applicant in respect of different operations of the applicant or operations of the applicant at different locations or may require separate applications. (4) The applicant must give the Commission any further relevant information requested by the Commission. 20—Consideration of application (1) The Commission must consider an application for the issue of a licence and may, subject to this Division, issue or refuse to issue the licence. (2) The Commission must have regard to the general factors specified in Part 2 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 and, subject to this section, may only issue a licence if satisfied that— (a) the applicant is a suitable person to hold the licence; and (b) the applicant will be able to meet reasonably foreseeable obligations under contracts for the sale or supply of water or the sale or supply of sewerage services (or both), as the case may require; and (c) the water infrastructure or the sewerage infrastructure (or both), as the case may require, to be used in connection with the relevant service is (or proposed infrastructure will be) appropriate for the purposes for which it will be used; and (d) the applicant has the capacity (including financial, technical, organisational and other necessary capacity) to provide the services safely and to appropriate standards that would be authorised by the licence; and (e) the applicant meets any special requirements imposed by the regulations for the holding of the licence; and (f) the grant of the licence would be consistent with criteria (if any) prescribed by the regulations. (3) In deciding whether an applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence, the Commission may consider— (a) the applicant's previous commercial and other dealings and the standard of honesty and integrity shown in those dealings; and (b) the financial, technical and human resources available to the applicant; and (c) the officers and, if applicable, major shareholders of the applicant and their previous commercial and other dealings and the standard of honesty and integrity shown in those dealings (including breaches of statutory and other legal obligations); and (d) other matters prescribed by regulation or considered relevant by the Commission. (4) If— (a) a person carries on or proposes to carry on operations for which a licence is required as agent of another person; and (b) the agent makes application for the issue of such a licence on the agent's own behalf and on behalf of the principal; and (c) the Commission is satisfied that the criteria for the issue of the licence are met in relation to the agent, the Commission may, at the Commission's discretion, dispense with the requirement that the Commission be satisfied that the criteria are met in relation to the principal and issue the licence to the agent and the principal to be held by them jointly. 21—Licences may be held jointly (1) A licence may be held jointly by 2 or more persons. (2) If a licence is held jointly by 2 or more persons, those persons are jointly and severally liable to meet requirements imposed under this Act or the Essential Services Commission Act 2002. 22—Authority conferred by licence (1) A licence authorises the person named in the licence to provide services or to carry on operations or activities in accordance with the terms and conditions of the licence. (2) Any services, operations or activities authorised by a licence need not be all of the same character or undertaken at the same location but may consist of a combination of different services, operations or activities provided or carried on at 1 or more locations. 23—Term of licence A licence may be issued for an indefinite period or for a term specified in the licence. 24—Licence fees and returns (1) A person is not entitled to the issue of a licence unless the person first pays to the Commission the relevant annual licence fee, or the first instalment of the relevant annual licence fee, as the case may require. (2) The holder of a licence issued for a term of 2 years or more must— (a) in each year lodge with the Commission, before the date prescribed for that purpose, an annual return containing the information required by the Commission by condition of the licence or by written notice; and (b) in each year (other than a year in which the licence is due to expire) pay to the Commission, before the date prescribed for that purpose, the relevant annual licence fee, or the first instalment of the relevant annual licence fee, as the case may require. (3) The annual licence fee for a licence is the fee fixed, from time to time, by the Treasurer in respect of that licence as an amount that the Treasurer considers to be a reasonable contribution towards prescribed costs after taking into account advice contained in a written report furnished to the Treasurer by the Commission for the purposes of this subsection. (4) The Treasurer must, within 14 days after the receipt of a report under subsection (3), cause a copy of the report to be published on the Department of Treasury and Finance's website. (5) The annual licence fee may, if the Commission so determines, be paid in equal instalments at intervals fixed by the Commission. (6) If the holder of a licence fails to lodge the annual return or pay the annual licence fee (or an instalment of the annual licence fee) in accordance with this section, the Commission may, by written notice, require the holder to make good the default and, in addition, to pay to the Commission the amount prescribed as a penalty for default. (7) An annual licence fee (including any instalment of an annual licence fee or any penalty for default) payable under this section is recoverable as a debt due to the Crown. (8) In this section— holder of a licence includes the holder of a licence that has been suspended; prescribed costs means— (a) the costs of administration of this Act; and (b) any costs of administration of the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 relating to the water industry; and (c) any costs associated with the development by the State Government of policies relating to the water industry; and (d) other costs prescribed by regulation. 25—Licence conditions (1) The Commission must make a licence subject to conditions determined by the Commission— (a) requiring compliance with applicable codes or rules made under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 as in force from time to time; and (b) requiring the water industry entity to comply with code provisions as in force from time to time (which the Commission must make under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002) relating to the following matters with respect to designated customers, or designated classes of customers: (i) standard contractual terms and conditions to apply to the sale or supply (or the sale and supply) of designated services; (ii) minimum standards of service that take into account relevant national benchmarks developed from time to time; (iii) limitations on the grounds on which the supply of designated services may be discontinued or disconnected; (iv) the processes to be followed before designated services are discontinued or disconnected; and (c) requiring the water industry entity, at the request of a designated customer, to provide designated services at the water industry entity's standard contract price and subject to the water industry entity's standard contractual terms and conditions; and (d) requiring the water industry entity to comply with code provisions as in force from time to time (which the Commission must make under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 on or before a prescribed date) relating to the provision of pricing information to designated customers, or designated classes of customers; and (e) requiring the water industry entity to include in each account for services provided to designated customers, or customers of a designated class, information prescribed by the regulations; and (f) requiring the water industry entity to maintain specified accounting records and to prepare accounts according to specified principles; and (g) requiring a specified process to be followed to resolve disputes between the water industry entity and its customers; and (h) if the water industry entity provides designated services to designated customers, or designated classes of customers, requiring the water industry entity to participate in an ombudsman scheme determined or approved by the Commission; and (i) requiring the water industry entity to monitor and report as required by the Commission on indicators of service performance determined by the Commission; and (j) relating to the water industry entity's financial or other capacity to provide services or to continue operations or activities under the licence; and (k) requiring the water industry entity to maintain specified kinds and levels of insurance; and (l) requiring the water industry entity to have all or part of the services, operations or activities authorised by the licence audited and to report the results of the audit to the Commission; and (m) requiring the water industry entity to notify the Commission about changes to officers and, if applicable, major shareholders of the entity; and (n) requiring the water industry entity to provide, in the manner and form determined by the Commission, such other information as the Commission may from time to time require; and (o) requiring the water industry entity to comply with the requirements of any scheme approved and funded by the Minister for the provision by the State of customer concessions or the performance of community service obligations by water industry entities; and (p) requiring the water industry entity to comply with the requirements of any scheme approved and funded by the Minister for the purposes of providing specified exemptions from the requirement to pay for the provision of specified services. (2) The Commission must, in acting under subsection (1), have regard to the scale and nature of the operations of the water industry entity (with the scale and nature being determined by the Commission after consultation with the entity or a person or body nominated by the entity). (3) The Commission must make a licence subject to further conditions that the Commission is required by regulation to impose on the issue of such a licence. (4) The Commission may make a licence subject to further conditions considered appropriate by the Commission. (5) A code or set of rules under subsection (1)(a) must include provisions to assist customers who may be suffering specified types of hardship relevant to the supply of any services (being provisions that comply with any direction of the Minister and that will apply under the code or rules despite any provision made by the Essential Services Commission Act 2002). (6) The Commission must provide to the Minister any information that the Minister requires for the purposes of the administration of a scheme— (a) for the provision by the State of customer concessions, or the performance of community service obligations, relating to the sale or supply of water or the sale or supply of sewerage services; or (b) for the provision of exemptions from the requirement to pay for the provision of various services. (7) For the purposes of this section, the Minister may— (a) by notice in the Gazette, designate various services; (b) by further notice in the Gazette, vary or revoke a previous notice under paragraph (a). 27—Offence to contravene licence conditions (1) A water industry entity must not contravene a condition of its licence. Maximum penalty: $1 000 000. (2) An offence against subsection (1) may be prosecuted as an indictable offence or a summary offence at the discretion of the prosecutor but, if prosecuted as a summary offence, the maximum penalty that may be imposed is a fine not exceeding $20 000. 28—Variation of licence (1) The Commission may vary the terms or conditions of a water industry entity's licence by written notice to the entity. (2) A variation under subsection (1) may only be made— (a) on application by the water industry entity or with the water industry entity's agreement; or (b) after giving the water industry entity reasonable notice of the proposed variation and allowing the entity a reasonable opportunity to make representations about the proposed variation (and giving due consideration to any such representations). (3) The conditions of a licence prescribed by the regulations may be varied from time to time by further regulations. (4) The conditions of a licence may be varied by the addition, substitution or deletion of one or more conditions. 29—Transfer of licence (1) A licence may be transferred with the Commission's agreement. (2) The Commission may impose conditions on the transfer of a licence, or vary the terms and conditions of the licence on its transfer. (3) The Commission must not agree to the transfer of a licence if the transferee would not be entitled to the issue of the licence. (4) An application for agreement to the transfer of a licence must— (a) be made by the transferor with the consent of the transferee to the Commission in a form approved by the Commission; and (b) contain the information specified in the form. (5) The applicant must pay to the Commission an application fee fixed by the Treasurer of an amount that the Treasurer considers appropriate to meet the reasonable costs of determining the application. (6) The applicant must give the Commission further relevant information requested by the Commission. 30—Consultation with consumer bodies The Commission may, before issuing a licence, agreeing to the transfer of a licence or determining or varying conditions of a licence, consult with and have regard to the advice of— (a) the Technical Regulator; and (b) the Ombudsman holding office under the industry ombudsman scheme; and (c) the consumer advisory committee under Part 3. 31—Notice of licence decisions (1) The Commission must give an applicant for a licence, or for agreement to the transfer of a licence, written notice of the Commission's decision on the application. (2) The Commission must give the holder of a licence written notice of any decision by the Commission affecting the terms or conditions of the licence. 32—Surrender of licence (1) A water industry entity may, by written notice given to the Commission, surrender its licence. (2) The notice must be given to the Commission so as to comply with a period of notice required under the terms of the licence. (3) The Commission may, by agreement with the water industry entity, shorten the required period of notice. 33—Suspension or cancellation of licences (1) The Commission may, if satisfied that— (a) the holder of a licence obtained the licence improperly; or (b) the holder of a licence has been guilty of a material contravention of a requirement imposed by or under this Act or any other Act in connection with the operations authorised by the licence; or (c) the holder of a licence has ceased to carry on operations authorised by the licence; or (d) there has been any act or default such that the holder of a licence would no longer be entitled to the issue of such a licence, suspend or cancel the licence with effect from a specified date. (2) A suspension under this section may be for a specified period, or until the fulfilment of specified conditions, or until further order of the Commission. (3) Before the Commission acts under this section, the Commission must— (a) notify the holder of the licence in writing of the proposed action specifying the reasons for the proposed action; and (b) allow the holder of the licence at least 14 days within which to make submissions to the Commission in relation to the proposed action. 34—Register of licences (1) The Commission must keep a register of the licences currently held by water industry entities under this Act. (2) The register must include— (a) the terms and conditions of each licence; and (b) other information required under the regulations. (3) A person may, without payment of a fee, inspect the Register. Division 3—Price regulation 35—Price regulation (1) Subject to this section, the Commission may make a determination under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 regulating prices, conditions relating to prices, and price‑fixing factors for retail services. (2) Despite the provisions of the Essential Services Commission Act 2002, the operation of a determination of a kind referred to in subsection (1) is not to be stayed pending the determination of an application for review under Part 6 of that Act. (3) In addition to the requirements of section 25(4) of the Essential Services Commission Act 2002, the Commission must, in acting under subsection (1), comply with the requirements of any pricing order issued by the Treasurer under this section. (4) The Treasurer may, for the purposes of subsection (3), issue an order (a pricing order) that— (a) sets out any policies or other matters that the Commission must have regard to when making a determination contemplated by this section; (b) specifies various parameters, principles or factors that the Commission must adopt or apply in making a determination contemplated by this section; (c) relates to any other matter that the Treasurer considers to be appropriate in the circumstances. (5) A pricing order— (a) takes effect on a date specified in the order; and (b) cannot be varied (except as contemplated by the order) or revoked (but this paragraph does not prevent new pricing orders being made from time to time). (6) Notice of the making of a pricing order must be published in the Gazette. (7) The notice must include a brief description of the nature and effect of the pricing order and state how a copy may be inspected or purchased. (8) The Treasurer must— (a) send a copy of a pricing order to each water industry entity to which the order may relate; and (b) ensure that a copy of the order is published on the Department of Treasury and Finance's website; and (c) ensure that copies of the order are available for inspection and purchase by members of the public. (9) In this section— price includes price range. Division 4—Standard terms and conditions for retail services 36—Standard terms and conditions for retail services (1) A water industry entity may, from time to time, fix standard terms and conditions governing the provision of services by the entity to customers of a designated class. (2) A water industry entity must publish in the Gazette a notice setting out any standard terms and conditions fixed by the entity. (3) A water industry entity must, when it publishes a notice in the Gazette under subsection (2), also publish a notice in a newspaper circulating generally in the State describing the general nature of the standard terms and conditions and advising where a person may read or obtain a copy of the standard terms and conditions. (4) Standard terms and conditions fixed under this section— (a) must comply with the conditions of any relevant licence; and (b) must not fix prices that exceed maximum prices fixed under this Act; and (c) come into force on the day specified by the entity in the notice of the standard terms and conditions published in the Gazette under this section, being a day not earlier than the day on which the notice is published; and (d) when in force are contractually binding on the water industry entity and the class of customers to which the terms and conditions are expressed to apply. (5) Subject to the conditions of a licence, a standard term or condition fixed under this section may be modified or excluded by express agreement between the water industry entity and a customer of the entity. (6) A water industry entity that has fixed standard terms and conditions under this section must— (a) supply a copy of the standard terms and conditions, without charge, on request made to the entity at a place approved by the Commission; and (b) publish the standard terms and conditions on a website maintained by the entity. Maximum penalty: $2 500. Division 5—Customer hardship policies 37—Customer hardship policies (1) The Minister must develop and publish a customer hardship policy in respect of the residential customers of water industry entities that sets out— (a) processes to identify residential customers experiencing payment difficulties due to hardship, including identification by a water industry entity and self‑identification by a residential customer; and (b) an outline of a range of processes or programs that a water industry entity should use or apply to assist customers identified under paragraph (a). (2) The Minister may vary a policy under subsection (1) from time to time. (3) A water industry entity must— (a) adopt a customer hardship policy published by the Minister under this section; or (b) with the approval of the Commission, adopt such a policy with modifications. (4) It will be a condition of a water industry entity's licence that it complies with the customer hardship policy applying in relation to the entity under subsection (3). (5) In this section— residential customer means a customer or consumer who is supplied with retail services for use at residential premises. Division 6—Commission's powers to take over operations 38—Power to take over operations (1) If— (a) a water industry entity contravenes this Act, or a water industry entity's licence ceases, or is to cease, to be in force; and (b) it is necessary, in the Commission's opinion, to take over the entity's operations (or some of them) to ensure an adequate supply of water to customers or the proper provision of any sewerage service (as the case may require), the Governor may make a proclamation under this section. (2) Before a proclamation is made under this section, the Commission must give the water industry entity a reasonable opportunity to make written representations giving reasons why the proclamation should not be made. (3) A proclamation under this section— (a) authorises the Commission to take over the water industry entity's operations or a specified part of the water industry entity's operations; and (b) may contain ancillary directions (and may, in particular, contain directions about how the costs of carrying on the operations, and revenue generated from the operations, are to be dealt with). (4) A direction under subsection (3)(b) operates to the exclusion of rights that are inconsistent with it. (5) The Governor may, by subsequent proclamation, vary or revoke a proclamation made under this section. 39—Appointment of operator (1) When a proclamation is made under this Division, the Commission must appoint a suitable person (who may, but need not, be a water industry entity) to take over the relevant operations on agreed terms and conditions (including as to remuneration and indemnities). (2) A person appointed to take over a water industry entity's operations is referred to in this section as the operator. (3) The water industry entity must facilitate the take over of the relevant operations by the operator. (4) The operator may have access to the property of a water industry entity for the purposes of carrying on the relevant operations. (5) A person must not obstruct the operator's access to property or the exercise by the operator of the operator's responsibilities under this Division. Maximum penalty: $250 000. (6) A person must comply with reasonable directions given by the operator in the exercise of the operator's responsibilities under this Division. Maximum penalty: $250 000. (7) The remuneration of the operator and all other costs and expenses arising out of the exercise of the operator's responsibilities under this Division are payable out of the funds of the water industry entity. Division 7—Related matters 40—Ministerial directions (1) Despite section 7 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2002, the Minister may, in relation to any prescribed matter, by notice published in the Gazette, give directions to the Commission as to— (a) whether or not a prescribed matter— (i) should be subject to regulation under a code or set of rules made under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002; (ii) should be subject to conditions of a licence under this Part; (iii) should be subject to any other form of regulation by the Commission under this Act or the Essential Services Commission Act 2002; and (b) insofar as a prescribed matter is subject to any form of regulation under paragraph (a), the extent of the regulation and, if the Minister thinks fit, provisions that will apply with respect to that prescribed matter. (2) The Minister may, by further notice in the Gazette, vary or revoke a previous notice published by the Minister under this section. (3) This section does not limit or derogate from any other power of the Minister under this Act. (4) In this section— prescribed matter means— (a) any matter relevant to water meters, including as to their design, features, installation or operation; and (b) any matter relevant to billing customers in relation to the supply of water under a retail service where a water meter is not available to be used to determine the quantity of water supplied; and (c) any matter relevant to the disconnection of a retail service (including circumstances or services in relation to which disconnection may not occur). Part 5—Powers and duties relating to land and infrastructure Division 1—Water industry officers 41—Appointment of water industry officers (1) A water industry entity may, subject to conditions or limitations determined by the Minister, appoint a person to be a water industry officer for the entity. (2) A water industry officer may only exercise powers under this Act subject to the conditions of appointment, any limitations imposed by the Minister, and any directions given by the relevant water industry entity. 42—Conditions of appointment (1) A water industry officer may be appointed for a stated term or for an indefinite term that continues while the officer holds a stated office or position. (2) A water industry officer may be removed from office by the water industry entity. 43—Identity cards (1) A water industry entity must give each water industry officer for the entity an identity card. (2) The identity card must be in a form approved by the Minister and must— (a) contain a photograph of the water industry officer taken for the purpose; and (b) identify the water industry officer as a water industry officer for the relevant water industry entity; and (c) contain any other information determined by the Minister for the purposes of this section. (3) A water industry officer must, before exercising a power in relation to another person, produce the officer's identity card for inspection by the other person. (4) A person must, within 2 days after ceasing to be a water industry officer, return the identity card to the water industry entity. Maximum penalty: $250. Division 2—Management of land and infrastructure 44—Power to enter land to conduct investigations (1) A water industry entity may, by agreement with the occupier of land or on the authorisation of the Minister, enter and remain on land to conduct investigations or carry out any other form of work to assess the suitability of the land for the construction or installation of water/sewerage infrastructure. (2) The Minister may authorise a water industry entity to enter and remain on land under this section on conditions the Minister thinks appropriate. (3) If a water industry entity enters land under the authorisation of the Minister, the water industry entity— (a) must give reasonable notice of the proposed entry on land under this section to the occupier; and (b) must minimise the impact of work carried out by the water industry entity on activities of others on the land; and (c) must comply with the conditions of the authorisation. 45—Power to carry out work on land (1) An authorised entity may, at any reasonable time, enter and remain on land (including a road)— (a) to construct, install, improve or add to any water/sewerage infrastructure; or (b) to inspect, operate, maintain, test, repair, alter, remove or replace any water/sewerage infrastructure or equipment; or (c) to lay pipes and install, operate or inspect pumps and other equipment; or (d) to carry out other work in connection with the establishment or operation of any water/sewerage infrastructure or otherwise connected with any water service or sewerage service; or (e) to obtain or enlarge a supply of water; or (f) to protect, improve or restore the quality of water; or (g) to protect any infrastructure or equipment connected with any water service or sewerage service; or (h) to perform any other function brought within the ambit of this section by the regulations. (2) The powers that may be exercised in the