Cederberg
South Africa
South Africa
Electricity Supply By-law, 2004
- Published in Western Cape Provincial Gazette 6181 on 22 October 2004
- Commenced on 22 October 2004
- [This is the version of this document from 22 October 2004 and includes any amendments published up to 23 June 2023.]
1. Definitions
In this by-law, words used in the masculine gender include the feminine, the singular includes the plural and vice versa, the Afrikaans text prevails in the event of an inconsistency between the different texts and unless the context otherwise indicates:—"accredited person" means a person registered in terms of the Regulations as an electrical tester for single phase, an installation electrician or a master installation electrician, as the case may be;"applicable standard specification" means the standard specifications as listed in Schedule 1 attached to this by-law;"certificate of compliance" means a certificate issued in terms of the Regulations in respect of an electrical installation or part of an electrical installation by an accredited person;"consumer" in relation to premises means:2. Other terms
All other terms used in this by-law shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning assigned thereto in the Electricity Act, 1987 (Act 41 of 1987), as amended, or the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act 85 of 1993), as amended.3. Headings and titles
The headings and titles in this by-law shall not affect the construction thereof.General conditions of supply
4. Provision of electricity services
Only the municipality shall supply or contract for the supply of electricity within its area of jurisdiction with the exception of those areas where electricity is supplied by Eskom.5. Supply by agreement
No person shall use or be entitled to use an electricity supply from the municipality unless or until such person shall have entered into an agreement in writing with the municipality for such supply, and such agreement together with the provisions of this by-law shall in all respects govern such supply. If a person uses an electricity supply without entering into an agreement he shall be liable for the cost of electricity used as stated in section 44 of this by-law.6. Service of notice
7. Compliance with notices
Any person on whom a notice duly issued or given under this by-law is served shall, within the time specified in such notice, comply with its terms.8. Application for supply
9. Processing of requests for supply
Applications for the supply of electricity will be processed and the supply made available within the periods stipulated in NRS 047.10. Wayleaves
11. Statutory servitude
12. Right of admittance to inspect, test and/or do maintenance work
13. Refusal or failure to give information
No person shall refuse or fail to give such information as may be reasonably required of him by the municipality or render any false information to any such official regarding any electrical installation work completed or contemplated.14. Refusal of admittance
No person shall wilfully hinder, obstruct, interfere with or refuse admittance to any duly authorised official of the municipality in the performance of his duty under this by-law or of any duty connected therewith or relating thereto.15. Improper use
If the consumer uses the electricity for any purpose or deals with the electricity in any manner which the municipality has reasonable grounds for believing interferes in an improper or unsafe manner or is calculated to interfere in an improper or unsafe manner with the efficient supply of electricity to any other consumer, the municipality may, with or without notice, disconnect the electricity supply but such supply shall be restored as soon as the cause for the disconnection has been permanently remedied or removed. The fee as prescribed by the municipality for the disconnection and reconnection shall be paid by the consumer before the electricity supply is restored, unless it can be shown that the consumer did not use or deal with the electricity in an improper or unsafe manner.16. Electricity tariffs and fees
Copies of charges and fees may be obtained free of charge at the offices of the municipality.17. Deposits
The municipality reserves the right to require the consumer to deposit a sum of money as security in payment of any charges which are due or may become due to the municipality. The amount of the deposit in respect of each electricity installation shall be determined by the municipality, and each such deposit may be increased if the municipality deems the deposit held to be inadequate. Such deposit shall not be regarded as being in payment or part payment of any accounts due for the supply of electricity for the purpose of obtaining any discount provided for in the electricity tariff referred to in this by-law. On cessation of the supply of electricity, the amount of such deposit, free of any interest, less any payments due to the municipality shall be refunded to the consumer.18. Payment of charges
19. Interest on overdue accounts
The Municipality may charge interest on accounts which are not paid by the due date appearing on the account, at a interest rate as approved by the municipality from time to time.20. Resale of electricity
Unless otherwise authorised by the municipality, no person shall sell or supply electricity, supplied to his premises under an agreement with the municipality, to any other person or persons for use on any other premises, or permit or suffer such resale or supply to take place. If electricity is resold for use upon the same premises, such resale shall be subject to the conditions laid down in the Electricity Act, 1987 (Act 41 of 1987), provided that the reseller shall be permitted to recover his/her actual electricity cost, provided further that he/she must substantiate these costs if called upon to do so.21. Right to disconnect supply
22. Non-liability of the municipality
The municipality shall not be liable for any loss or damage, direct or consequential, suffered or sustained by a consumer as a result of or arising from the cessation, interruption or any other abnormality of the supply of electricity, unless caused by negligence on the part of the municipality.23. Leakage of electricity
Under no circumstances shall any rebate be allowed on the account for electricity supplied and metered in respect of electricity wasted owing to leakage or any other fault in the electrical installation.24. Failure of supply
The municipality does not undertake to attend to a failure of supply of electricity due to a fault in the electrical installation of the consumer, except when such failure is due to the operation of the service protective device of the municipality. When any failure of supply of electricity is found to be due to a fault in the electrical installation of the consumer or to the faulty operation of apparatus used in connection therewith, the municipality shall have the right to charge the consumer the fee as prescribed by the municipality for each restoration of the supply of electricity in addition to the cost of making good or repairing any damage which may have been done to the service main and meter by such fault or faulty operation as aforesaid.25. Seals of the municipality
The meter, service protective devices and all apparatus belonging to the municipality shall be sealed or locked by the municipality, and no person who is not an authorised official of the municipality shall in any manner or for any reason whatsoever remove, break, deface, or tamper or interfere with such seals or locks.26. Tampering with service connection or supply mains
27. Protection of municipality’s supply mains
28. Prevention of tampering with service connection or supply mains
If the municipality decides that it is necessary or desirable to take special precautions in order to prevent tampering with any portion of the supply mains, service connection or service protective device or meter or metering equipment, the consumer shall either supply and install the necessary protection or pay the costs involved where such protection is supplied by the municipality.29. Unauthorised connections
No person other than a person specifically authorised thereto by the municipality in writing shall directly or indirectly connect, attempt to connect or cause or permit to be connected any electrical installation or part thereof to the supply mains or service connection.30. Unauthorised reconnections
31. Temporary disconnection and reconnection
32. Temporary supplies
It shall be a condition of the giving of any temporary supply of electricity, as defined in this by-law, that, if such supply is found to interfere with the efficient and economical supply of electricity to other consumers, the municipality shall have the right, with notice, or under exceptional circumstances without notice, to terminate such temporary supply at any time and, the municipality shall not be liable for any loss or damage occasioned by the consumer by such termination.33. Temporary work
Electrical installations requiring a temporary supply of electricity shall not be connected directly or indirectly to the supply mains except with the special permission in writing of the municipality. Full information as to the reasons for and nature of such temporary work shall accompany the application for the aforesaid permission, and the municipality may refuse such permission or may grant the same upon such terms and conditions as it may appear desirable and necessary.34. Load reduction
35. Medium and low voltage switchgear and equipment
36. Substation accommodation
The municipality may, on such conditions as it may be deemed fit, require the owner to provide and maintain accommodation which shall constitute a substation and which shall consist of a separate room or rooms to be used exclusively for the purpose of housing medium voltage cables and switchgear, transformers, low voltage cables and switchgear and other equipment necessary for the supply of electricity requested by the applicant. The accommodation shall be situated at a point to which free, adequate and unrestricted access is available at all times for purposes connected with the operation and maintenance of the equipment.The municipality reserves the right to supply its own networks from its own equipment installed in such accommodation, and if additional accommodation is required by the municipality, such additional accommodation shall be provided by the applicant at the cost of the municipality.37. Wiring diagram and specification
38. Standby supply
No person shall be entitled to a standby supply of electricity from the municipality for any premises having a separate source of electricity supply except with the written consent of the municipality and subject to such terms and conditions as may be laid down by the municipality.39. Consumer’s emergency standby supply equipment
40. Circular letters
The municipality may from time to time issue circulars detailing the requirements regarding matters not specifically covered in the Regulations or this by-law but which are necessary for the safe, efficient operation and management of the supply of electricity.Responsibilities of consumers
41. Consumer to erect and maintain electrical installation
Any electrical installation connected or to be connected to the supply mains, and any additions or alterations thereto which may be made from time to time, shall be provided and erected and maintained and kept in good order by the consumer at his own expense and in accordance with this by-law and the Regulations.42. Fault in electrical installation
43. Discontinuance of use of supply
In the event of a consumer desiring to discontinue using the electricity supply, he/she shall give at least two full working days’ notice in writing of such intended discontinuance to the Municipality, failing which he/she shall remain liable for all payments due in terms of the tariff for the supply of electricity until the expiration of two full working days after such notice has been given.44. Change of occupier
45. Service apparatus
Specific conditions of supply
46. Service connection
47. Metering accommodation
Systems of supply
48. Load requirements
Alternating current supplies shall be given as prescribed by the Electricity Act, 1987 (Act 41 of 1987), and in the absence of a quality of supply agreement, as set out in applicable standard specification.49. Load limitations
50. Interference with other persons’ electrical equipment
51. Supplies to motors
Unless otherwise approved by the Municipality the rating of motors shall be limited as follows:Insulated service cable, size in mm², copper equivalent mm² | Maximum permissible starting current A | Maximum motor rating in kW | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | Direct on line (6 x full-load current) | Star/Delta (2,5 x full-load current) | Other means (1,5 x full-load current) |
 |  | kW | kW | kW |
162535507095120150 | 7295115135165200230260 | 67,591013161820 | 13,518222531384652 | 233036,54555677787 |