Section 18
Recovery of charges
(1)
Subject to subsection (2), if a distribution licensee has good cause to disconnect a consumer from the electricity system, including the failure of the consumer to pay an account, the distribution licensee may disconnect the consumer from the electricity system.
(2)
A distribution licensee shall not disconnect the supply of electricity to any residential premises by reason of failure by the consumer to pay an account for that supply if the failure occurs through lack of sufficient income of the consumer and of any other person normally resident on the premises supplied until -
(aj the distribution licensee has offered to advise the consumer about optional methods of arranging payment of the account; and
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(b)
the consumer -
(i)
refuses or fails to accept that offer of advice within the period (being not less than 7 days) specified by the distribution licensee in each case; or
(ii)
accepts the offer of advice, but refuses or fails to take any reasonable action to pay the account within the period (being not less than 7 days) specified by the distribution licensee.
(3)
Subject to this section, if a consumer has not, on the due date, paid all charges due from him to a distribution licensee, the licensee may -
(a)
in accordance with its licence disconnect that consumer from the distribution system;
(b)
discontinue the supply of electricity to the premises, or any other premises occupied by the consumer by such other means as the licensee thinks fit; and
(c)
recover any expenses incurred in so doing from the consumer.
(4)
Where a distribution licensee has disconnected the supply of electricity to any premises in consequence of any default on the part of a consumer, the licensee shall reconnect the supply of electricity to the consumer within a reasonable time if the consumer in default has -
(a)
made good the default;
(b)
paid the reasonable expenses of disconnecting and reconnecting the supply; and
(c)
given such security as the distribution licensee may reasonably require.
(5)
Where a distribution licensee receives any payment from a consumer and the consumer has not, in making the payment, indicated to the distribution licensee the charges in respect of which the payment is to be made, the licensee may apportion the payment received to pay such charges in such proportion and manner as it may determine.
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