Conditions For Supply

General Conditions For The Supply Of Electricity
Revised 2007

1.  APPLICATION FOR SUPPLY

Application for the supply of electricity for any purpose shall be made on the appropriate form, care being taken to fill in the details accurately.

 In the case of a company incorporated or registered under the Companies Ordinance, evidence shall be supplied to the Gibraltar Electricity Authority (GEA) that the person applying for the supply of electricity is authorised to do so on behalf of the company and to pledge the credit of the company in connection with such supply.

 The application form duly completed shall be delivered at the Consumer Office of the Gibraltar Electricity Authority not later than ten working days before the date when a new supply is required and at least four working days before the date when an existing supply is to be transferred for the account of another consumer, but the Gibraltar Electricity Authority does not in either case bind itself to have the required supply laid on within that period.

All consumers must complete a GEA Application for Supply and/or Termination of Supply form.

2.  CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUPPLY

The characteristics of the supply which can be made available by the Authority (the Authority shall mean the Gibraltar Electricity Authority) are as follows:

1. AC 240 Volts, single phase, 50 Hz.
2. AC 415 Volts, three phase, 50 Hz.

The provision of either type (i) or type (ii) supply shall be at the Authority’s discretion. A consumer’s appliances, installation, fittings and apparatus must be suitable in all respects for operation with the characteristics of the supply made available for his premises. The Authority may refuse connection to its mains of appliances, fittings or apparatus which do not conform to this requirement.

Explanatory Note on Voltages

The voltage in Gibraltar has been and continues to be identical to that in the United Kingdom of Great Britain (i.e. 240V for single phase supplies and 415V for three phase supplies). Following a European Union directive, the voltage in the whole of Europe is now nominally declared to be 230V for single phase supplies and 400V for three phase supplies.

The permissible variations in voltage are however different for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the other European countries. In practice the volt­ages have not changed in the EU to any significant degree. In order to ensure that consumers continue to remain aware of the difference in voltage between Gibraltar and other European countries it has been thought advisable to continue with the declared voltage levels as heretofore.

3.  ELECTRIC LINES

Electric lines will be provided and installed by the Authority.

All electric lines will remain the property of the Authority and will be maintained by it. The Authority can require the consumer to contribute towards the cost of the provision of electric lines and other works in the following cases:

1. Where lines exceed 5 meters in length.
2. Where lines are laid on or in private land.
3. Where the supply is required for temporary buildings or for less than twelve months.
4. Where the cost of providing a supply of electricity is unlikely to be recuperated from charges for consumption over a reasonable period.

4.  POSITION OF ELECTRIC LINES, POSTS, METERS AND OTHER WORKS

The Authority will determine the position in which the electric lines shall be laid and where they shall enter the consumer’s premises and also the position in which the supply point or points (whether within or without the consumer’s premises), posts, service fuses, meters and any other works in connection therewith are to be installed.
The consumer shall provide suitable space and adequate protection for the service fuses, meters and other works to the satisfaction of the Authority and shall accept full responsibility for the safe custody of the electric lines, service fuses, meters and other works, Any alteration requested by a consumer to the position of the electric lines, fuses, meters and other works, after they have been fixed, shall be subject to the approval of the Authority, who will also determine what charge, if any, shall be made to the consumer in respect thereof.

5.  FACILITIES OF WORKS

The consumer shall provide facilities to the Authority free of charge for the laying of electric lines to the premises and for the installation of the Authority’s works and the Authority shall only be responsible for the temporary reinstatement of any part of the consumer’s property. The Authority shall be entitled, free of rent or any other charges, to run lines between neighbouring premises and between any other works installed by the Authority.

6.  INSPECTION AND TESTING OF NEW INSTALLATIONS

The Gibraltar Electricity Authority has the right to inspect the consumer’s installation and to refuse connection if it is not satisfied that each part of the installation is so constructed, installed, protected and used as to prevent danger. The Authority will inspect a consumer’s installation free of charge in the first instance. If the Chief Executive is not satisfied as to the safety of the installation, a written statement giving details of any shortcomings will be sent to the consumer. On comple­tion of any modifications or repairs so notified, a further request for inspection must be made by the consumer who may be required to pay in advance a fee for the second and each subsequent inspection. The fee will be that determined by the Authority.

Where the consumer, his servants or his agents require that a test be made of an installation, then such test shall be charged to the person requesting the test, irrespective of whether a certificate of test is issued.

7.  ALTERATIONS TO CONSUMER’S INSTALLATONS

Before making any alterations or extensions to his installation the consumer must give written notice to the Authority. If the consumer fails to comply with this condition and/or if the installation is found not to prevent danger, the whole of the in­stallation in his premises may be cut off from the supply until the requirements for safety are satisfied.

8.  ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION OF THE CONSUMER

The Authority shall bear no liability for the electrical installation belonging to the consumer.

The Authority shall bear no liability for any damage, loss or injury caused or arising, directly or indirectly, from any defect in the electrical installation of the consumer.

No new or modified installation shall be connected to the Authority’s mains unless the consumer provides the required completion certificate and as fitted wiring diagrams.

The Authority may inspect and/or test an installation to ensure that each part of the installation is constructed, installed, protected and used as to prevent danger and so satisfies the Chief Executive.

9.  DEFECTIVE INSTALLATIONS

Should the consumer’s installation be found at any time not to prevent danger, the whole installation may be discon­nected by the Authority until the installation has been corrected. It is the responsibility of the consumer to correct the installation and to notify the Authority accordingly.  Any expense incurred by the Authority in tracing the faults and in disconnecting and connecting the installation shall be paid by the consumer.

10.  PRIVATE GENERATING PLANT

Private generating plant, solely for emergency use in the event of failure or restriction of the public supply, may be in­stalled in consumer’s premises, provided that a written applica­tion has been made to the Authority and written prior approval has been given. In such cases the Authority must be satisfied that the operation of the standby generator will in no way jeopardise either the public supply, other consumers’ supplies, or the supply within the premises where the generator is to be installed, and that the installation complies with the Authority’s require­ments and relevant statutory instruments.

11.  POWER FACTOR

The Authority may carry out tests or otherwise install equipment to determine the power factor which is maintained by a consumer’s installation. Should any such test reveal that the power factor generally falls outside the limits of 0.85 lagging and unity, the Authority may require the consumer to provide at his expense power factor correction equipment as necessary to ensure that the power factor is generally maintained within the above-mentioned limits.

12.  EARTHING TO THE AUTHORITY’S SYSTEM

The Authority will provide an earth terminal at the service position which the consumer is strongly advised to use in the interests of safety. The responsibility for providing and maintaining an efficient earthing system within the installation remains with the consumer and the Authority cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss or injury attributable to any defect in or default of the earthing system.

13.  PROVISION OF METERS

The Authority will provide, fix and maintain, without charge to the consumer, only such meter or meters as it considers necessary.

14.  MEASURE OF SUPPLY

Except where otherwise expressly provided by agreement between the Authority and the consumer, electricity supplied shall be measured by meter and the register of the meter shall be prima facie evidence of the quantity of electricity consumed and in respect of which any charge is made or sought to be recovered by the Authority. Provided that if the Authority and the consumer differ as to the quantity consumed such difference shall be determined, upon application of either party, by the Magistrates’ Court, as per Section 23. of the Gibraltar Electricity Authority Act 2003.

15.  MAINTENANCE OF METERS

The Authority will provide the requisite main meters free of charge. The Authority shall at its own expense keep all meters provided by it as aforesaid in proper order for correctly registering the quantity of electricity supplied to the consumer and the Authority’s authorised employees shall, for such purpose, have access to and are at liberty to test, inspect and replace any such meters at all reasonable times.

16.  ACCURACY OF ELECTRICITY METERS

If a meter on being tested is proved to register within the limits of 2.5% fast, 3.5% slow, the meter shall be deemed to be registering correctly. The percentage error shall be the difference between the energy registered by the meter and the true energy, expressed as a percentage of the true energy.

If a meter is proved to be registering incorrectly to any degree exceeding the said limits of error, the meter shall be deemed to have registered incorrectly to that degree since the penultimate reading before the date of complaint unless it can be proved to have begun to register incorrectly on some earlier or later date. The amount of any refund to be made to, or of any extra payment to be made by, the consumer shall be paid or credited to the consumer’s account by the Authority or paid by the consumer to the Authority as the case may be.

If a meter, on being tested, is found to be stopped or oth­erwise not registering the consumption accurately, the quantity of electricity supplied for the period of such failure shall be calculated by the Authority on the basis of the registered con­sumption in the premises during the corresponding period in the previous year or by other fair estimation.

A consumer who disputes the accuracy of a meter may, by written notice within ten days of the receipt of an account, request the Authority to test the meter and the Authority shall carry out that test as soon as possible. The consumer or his rep­resentative may be present at the test.

In cases of repeated requests for tests of a meter by one consumer, the Authority may require a fee to be paid before any subsequent test is carried out, but if the test shows the meter to be registering incorrectly, the Authority shall refund the fee paid for testing and adjust the consumer’s account as set out above.

17.  CHARGES FOR SUPPLY

The prices charged by the Authority for the supply of electricity shall be those determined from time to time by the Authority as per Section 10. and Section 14. of the Gibraltar Electricity Authority Ordinance 2003.

All charges accrue day by day as the energy is consumed, but accounts will, as a general rule, be rendered monthly, or at other intervals at the Authority’s option. Payment of all ac­counts rendered is in all cases due on demand.

18.  SECURITY FOR PAYMENT

19.  PAYMENT FOR WORKS

In those cases where charges are made by the Authority for works in connection with the provision of a new supply of electricity, or where charges are made for works on existing supplies, payment for such works will normally be due and made before any such works are commenced.

20.  REFUSAL OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE SUPPLY

The Authority may refuse to supply or may discontinue the supply of electricity to any consumer

1. whose payments for the supply are for the time being in ar­rears; over 60 credit days, whether any such payments be due to the Authority in respect of supply to the premises in respect of which a supply is demanded or given, or in respect of any other premises;
2. who fails to give such security as the Authority may require for the payment of all moneys which may become due in respect of a supply;
3. if the Chief Executive is not satisfied that each part of the installation is so constructed, installed, protected and used as to prevent danger. The installation of any consumer which complies with the provisions of the relevant regulations issued by the Institution of Electrical Engineers in the United Kingdom shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this para­graph as to safety;
4. who uses any form of apparatus, fittings or appliance, or uses electricity supplied to him by the Authority for any pur­poses, or deals with it in any manner so as to interfere unduly or improperly with the efficient supply of electricity by the Authority to any other consumer;
5. who fails to submit the appropriate test certificate or the certificate of completion declaring the nature of the installation and attesting to the completion of the installation, together with the “as fitted” electrical drawings of the electrical installation in the premises where the supply is required;
6. who fails to produce a certificate of fitness in respect of the building in which the supply is required.

21.  DISCONTINUANCE OF SUPPLY AT CONSUMER’S REQUEST

Two clear working days notice in writing shall be given to the Authority by a consumer for the discontinuance of the supply of electricity to his premises. In default of such notice the consumer will be liable to pay to the Authority the charges accruing in respect of such supply up to the date from which any subsequent occupier or user of the premises accepts responsibility for the sup­ply.
No charge will be made by the Authority by way of a disconnection fee.

22.  ACCESS TO ELECTRIC LINES AND WORKS

Any employee of the Authority may at all reasonable times enter any premises to which electricity is, is going to be, or has been supplied in order to inspect, test, repair or otherwise carry out work on the electric lines or other works, or for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of electricity consumed or supplied.

23.  INTERFERENCE WITH LINES AND WORKS

No person, other than an employee of the Authority authorised therefore, shall connect, disconnect, seal or unseal any fuses, meters or other works belonging to the Authority or inter­fere in any way with the Authority’s lines and other works. The consumer shall be responsible for any interference with the said me­ters, meter boxes, main fuses, service cables, meter leads or other works, whether by himself, his servants, his agents and/or by other unauthorized persons insofar as the said works are installed within his premises or, by virtue of the preceding conditions, are deemed to be in his custody.

24.  NOTICE OF INJURY TO ELECTRIC LINES AND WORKS

Every consumer of electricity shall give immediate notice to the Authority of any injury, removal, alteration or want to repair which he shall know or have reason to believe to have happened to any electric lines or works provided by the Authority for the sup­ply of electricity. The Authority may recover summarily as a civil debt from a consumer of electricity full com­pensation for any injury, removal of or alteration to any electric lines and works belonging to the Authority together with the expenses of the Authority thereby occasioned.

25.  LOSS OR INJURY TO ELECTRIC LINES AND WORKS

The consumer shall pay the cost of making good, repairing or replacing all damage, loss or injury sustained to the Authority’s lines and works through the fault or negligence of the consumer, his servants or his agents.

The consumer shall be liable for all damage, loss or injury by fire, lightning, explosion, aircraft, earthquake, riot, civil commotion, storm, flood, or impact by vehicle to all lines and works provided and placed by the Authority on or in the land or premises owned or occupied or under the control of the consumer.

The consumer shall notify the Authority of any such damage, loss or injury as is referred to in this condition.

26.       DAMAGE TO LINES AND WORKS

The capacity of the Authority’s lines, equipment, apparatus and works will be so designed as to continuously carry the rated current. Should the consumer, at any time, without notice, alter or permit to be altered an installation which has al­ready been passed by the Authority, damage may result to the electric lines, equipment, apparatus and/or works of the Authority and the consumer will, in that case, be liable for the expenses of repairing the damage.

If any electric line, equipment apparatus, meter or other works belonging to the Authority be damaged or destroyed by any physical cause or by any act or default on the part of the consumer, his family, his servants or his agents, or by reason of any defect or mishap in the consumer’s installation or apparatus connected thereto, the consumer shall, on demand, pay to the Authority the expenses incurred by it in connection with the replacement or repair of any such lines or other works.

27.  LIABILITY OF THE AUTHORITY

The Authority shall bear no liability for any damage, loss, injury or inconvenience caused by or arising directly or indirectly from any interruption, defect, variation or discontinuance of the sup­ply of electricity or from any breakdown of or accident to or defect in the Authority’s machinery or other works but it will use all rea­sonable diligence in restoring the supply.

28. NOTICE OF WORKS

The Authority will, when possible, inform consumers by such means as are available (including the news media) of any planned interruption to the supply of electricity. The Authority does not undertake to inform consumers when such interruptions arise as a result of breakdowns or faults or in cases where emergency works become necessary in order to restore supplies of electricity at the earliest opportunity.

29. COMMUNICATIONS

All enquiries, complaints and notices concerning the supply of electricity or works by or of the Authority shall be addressed to the Chief Executive, Gibelec House, North Mole, Gibraltar, including all communications concerning accounts for the supply of electricity.

30. STATUTORY PROVISIONS

The provisions, prohibitions, requirements, penalties, etc. contained in the Gibraltar Electricity Authority Act 2003 in connection with a supply of electricity by the Authority shall apply not­withstanding anything contained in these general conditions which are additional to and not in derogation thereof.

31.       REVOCATION

All previous editions of the General Conditions for the Supply of Electricity are hereby revoked.