OF ELECTRICITY Division I-Cathodic Protection
285. Installation of cathodic protection system. (1) On and after the commencement of this Act, a person shall not install a cathodic protection system unless-
(a) he makes application, in manner prescribed, to the Commission for permission to install such a system; and
(b) he has the permission of the Commission to install such a system.
(2) The Commission may require the applicant to consult with representatives of persons owning metallic structures that, in its opinion, are likely to be affected by the proposed cathodic protection system to enable the representatives to examine the proposal in consultation with the applicant.
(3) The representatives may submit a report on the proposal to the Commission.
(4) The Commission, after making such inquiries as it thinks fit and after consideration of any report received from representatives as aforesaid, may grant a permit in the prescribed form for the installation or may reject the application.
(5) The issue of a permit authorizes the applicant to install and test the cathodic protection system to which the permit applies. A n y such tests shall be arranged by the owner at his expense.
(6) The permit shall contain a date as the date prior to which it is necessary for an authority to operate, hereinafter referred to, to issue as a condition precedent to the effective continuance of the permit, and if the authority to operate is not issued prior to such date, the permit is by force of this provision cancelled on that date and thereupon ceases to have any effect.
(7) Before putting a cathodic protection system into operation, the owner shall ensure that interference mitigation has been effected to the satisfaction of the Comn~ission.
(8) When the Commission is so satisfied in accordance with subsection
(7), it shall issue an authority to operate the system. The authority to
operate shall remain in force for a period specified therein by the Commission and may be issued subject to any conditions, additional to those prescribed, that the Commission may determine. Such conditions shall be specified in the authority to operate.
(9) The owner or operator of a cathodic protection system shall ensure that the installation complies with conditions that may be prescribed from time to time for such installations.
286. Interference with other structures. (1) If the Commission has reason to believe that any metallic structure other than the structure to which cathodic protection is applied, in contact with ground or water, has had its electrical potential changed with respect to earth or the electrical conditions altered beyond the limits prescribed due t o the operation of a cathodic protection system, the Commission may suspend the authority to operate such system until such time as modifications are carried out on it to ensure that a change in potential or alterations to the electrical conditions beyond such prescribed limits on any other underground or underwater metallic structure is not caused by the operation of the system.
166 M. 287-289 BLE(CITR1CITY ACT 1976-1980
(2) Where the Commission is satisfied that a metallic structure other than the structure to which the cathodic protection is applied may be so affected as aforesaid and that-
(a) the firstmentioned structure has been erected subsequent to the issue of a permit to install and test the cathodic protection system in respect of the protected structure; and
(b) the current required to effect the necessary interference mitigation is in the opinion of the Commission excessive, having regard to the conditions that existed when the permit to install and test such cathodic protection system was issued, it may require the owner of such firstmentioned structure to contribute towards the cost O F interference mitigation, and if the owner refuses or fails to make such contribution he shall have no claim in law against the Commission or the person to whom the permit to install and test such cathodic protection system was issued in respect of damages for electrolytic corrosion attributable to the operation of such cathodic protection system.
(3) A person shall not operate a cathodic protection system during any suspension referred to in subsection (1).
(4) If a cathodic protection system is operated during any suspension as aforesaid, an electrical inspector may, at any hour of the day or night, enter upon the premises in which the installation is so operated and render it inoperable and take such reasonable action as may be necessary to prevent it being operated until the modifications referred to in subsection (1) have been effected and the suspension of the authority to operate removed.
287. Modification of installation. If a cathodic protection system is altered or removed or the method of operation is changed, the person owning or operating the system shall notify the Commission verbally as soon as possible and by writing within 7 days of the alteration, removal or change in method of operation, and if so required by the Commission that person shall take the action or any part thereof that an applicant for permission to install a new system is required to take pursuant to this Act.
288. Inspection of installation. The owner of a cathodic protection system shall, at all reasonable times, provide access to, and provide such facilities for testing of, the cathodic protection system as the Commission may require.
289. Costs of testing after authority to operate is issued. ( I ) The Commission shall arrange for and meet the costs of any testing it considers necessary to determine whether a cathodic protection system complies with the conditions prescribed or determined by the Commission as a condition of the authority to operate such system.
(2) The Commission may recover from the holder of the authority to operate all costs so incurred, including the indirect and overhead costs incurred by the Commission, by action as for a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction:
ELECTRICITY ACT 1976-1 980 S. 290-293 167
Provided that, if the Commission arranges any such testing and the installation is found to comply with the conditions of the authority to operate, the cost of such testing shall be borne by the Commission and shall not be recoverable from such holder.
280. Commission may seek advice or constibte a committee. The Commission may seek such advice as it deems desirable and may constitute a committee, working group or panel to assist it under this Act to do such things and to issue such instructions as may be expedient to ensure that a cathodic protection system applied to a metallic structure is installed and operated in such manner that other metallic structures are protected from the corrosive effects of direct current from the cathodic protection system.
291, Installations in operation at commencement of Act. A person operating a cathodic protection system at the commencement of this Act shall within three months after such commencement apply to the Commission in manner prescribed for authority t o continue to operate such system.
292. Exclusion from application. The provisions of this Division do not apply to a cathodic protection system installed on a floating mobiIe structure or on fishing equipment or on fixed off shore structures not in any way connected with land.
Divisio?? II-Provisions Applicable to Electric Lines not otherwise Subject to Act
293. Restrictions with respect to ceaQaian electric lines or works. (31) The Governor in Council may direct the Minister to give a notice in writing to any person owning or using or entitled to use any electric lines or works the construction or use of which are not under or subject to the provisions of this Act, requiring that the electric lines or works be continued and used only subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed in respect of notices given under this section and terms and conditions thereof and subject to any other terms and conditions determined by the Governor in Council and set out in the notice in writing, and the Minister shall give such notice in writing accordingly.
(2) If the person to whom the notice is given does not comply with its requirements, the Governor in Council may require him to remove the electric lines or works.
(3) If that person refuses or fails to comply with the requirement t o remove the electric lines or works, the Governor in Council may cause the Commission to remove them, and the Commission may recover from that person so refusing or failing to compIy all costs incurred by it in connexion with such removal by action as for a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(4) This section is applicable to any person lawfully using electricity as a motive power for electric traction.
Division 111-Private Plants, etc.
294. Works not to be constructed except in accordance with Act.
A person shall not construct, use or maintain any electric line or works o r supply electricity to another person or other persons save under the authority of and subject to and in accordance in every respect with a licence under Division IV of Part I11 or save as otherwise provided by this Act.
295. Exceptions. (1) Section 294 is not applicable to-
(a) the construction and use of electric lines and works constructed and used exclusively for supplying electricity as a motive power upon tramways or for the operation of a trolley vehicle service, and to the supply of electricity supplied exclusively for use as a motive power upon tramways or for the operation of a trolley vehicle service, by a Local Authority, person or body authorized to so use electricity under the provisions of The Tranzways Acts, 1882-1 890 or the Railless Traction Act 1914-1972, as the case may be;
(b) any electric line or work constructed by the Commissioner for Railways pursuant to the provisions of the Railways Act
1914-1972 and forming part of a railway;
(c) any case in which an electric line is not constructed or used or electricity is not transmitted or supplied beyond the limits of the building or premises in or on which the electricity is generated, and in which no electric line is over, upon, across or under any road, right of way, railway, river or canal;
(d) any electric line or works within the limits of a mine (as defined in section 138 (1) (d));
(e) any private plant or electrical installation that is subject to inspection pursuant to the provisions of The Petroleum Acts, 1923 to 1967.
(2) It is declared that paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (1) do not operate to exclude from the provisions of this Act-
(a) an electrical article used;
(b) a cathodic protection system installed; or
(c) a person, not being the owner of a metalliferous mine in which the only source of electricity supply is a private plant not exceeding 75 kilowatts in capacity, who performs electrical work
within the limits of a mine or on a private plant or electrical installation that is subject to inspection pursuant to the provisions of The Petroleum Acts, 1923 to 1967.
(3) It is declared that the Commission's powers under Division I of Part VIII extend to and apply within the limits of a mine and to a private plant or electrical installation that is subject to inspection pursuant to the provisions of The Petroleum Acts, 1923 to 1967.
As amended by Act of 1980, No. 15, s. 46.
ELECTRICITY ACT 1976-1980 ss. 296-299 169
296. Supply of electricity beyond limits of a mine, The owner of a mine as defined in section 138 (1) (d) shall not supply electricity or construct or use any electric lines or works beyond the limits of the mine in question save under the authority of, and subject to and in compliance in every respect with, a licence under Division IV of Part 111, and a person shall not use electricity supplied by such an owner beyond the limits of the mine save in compliance in every respect with the provisions of this Act.
297. Electrical inspector may enter and inspect private plant. At any reasonable hour by day or ~ i g h t an electrical inspector may enter upon any premises in which electricity is generated (notwithstanding that, pursuant to section 295 (c), the provisions of section 294 are not applicable in respect thereof) for the purpose of inspecting works in connexion with such generation of electricity, and he may remain upon such premises for so long as he considers necessary in order to complete such inspection.
298. Private plant, etc., may be disconnected. (1) Where an electrical inspector discovers a defect in a private plant or the electrical installation associated therewith that is likely to cause fire or a person to sustain an electric shock, he may, by notice in writing under his hand, require the owner to disconnect or cause to be disconnected forthwith and in the presence of the electrical inspector the electrical installation associated therewith or the defective part of such installation.
(2) If the owner does not comply with the direction of the electrical inspector or requests the electrical inspector so to do, the electrical inspector may disconnect the electrical installation associated with the private plant or the defective part of such installation.
(3) Before the owner re-connects or causes to be re-connected the electrical installation to the private plant or the part of the installation that was defective to the installation, he shall have the defect remedied by an electrical mechanic.
299. Governor in Council may decIare private plant subject to Act.
(1) In any case to which section 295 (c) relates and in which the electric generating plant used is capable of generating electrical energy at a pressure of o r greater than 32 volts alternating current or 115 volts direct current, the Governor in Council may, if in his opinion it is necessary or desirable so t o do in order to secure the safety of any persons, by Order in Council declare that this Act applies to that generating plant, to all electric lines and works associated therewith, and to the use and supplying of electricity generated by that generating plant.
(2) Upon and from the date of the publication of the Order in Council and thereafter while it continues in force-
(a) the owner of the generating plant in question shall not operate it for generating electricity save under the authority of and in compliance in every respect with the conditions of a licence under Division IV of Part 111 the provisions of which Division
shall, with and subject to all necessary adaptations, apply for the purposes of this section and of any Order in Council hereunder ; and
(b) neither that owner nor any other person shall use electricity generated by( that generating plant save in compliance in every respect with the provisions of this Act.
PART XI-ELECTRICAL WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS