South Australian Consolidated Acts South Australian Consolidated Acts (1) If for any reason
the volume of gas available for supply through a distribution system is, in
the opinion of the Minister, insufficient or likely to become insufficient to
meet the requirements of customers who draw gas from that system—
(a) the
Minister may give directions to—
(i)
the gas entity or other body by which the system, or part
of the system, is operated; or
(ii)
a person who sells gas by retail or otherwise (whether or
not the person is required to hold a licence under this Act),
to ensure the most efficient and appropriate use of the available gas; and
(b) the
Minister may, by notice published in such manner as may be appropriate in the
circumstances, direct customers, or specified customers, not to draw gas from
the system except for the purposes (if any) allowed by the directions.
(2) A direction under
subsection (1)(a) may (without limitation) relate to the quantity of gas
that may be supplied through a distribution system or to the quality of that
gas.
(2a) A direction under
this section—
(a)
operates for a period (which may be defined by reference to specified days or
to the happening of specified events) specified in the direction; and
(b) may
be varied or revoked (with effect at a specified time or on the happening of a
specified event) by a subsequent direction under this section.
(3) No civil liability
arises from compliance with a direction under this section.
(4) A person who fails
to comply with a direction under this section is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: $250 000.
(4a) An offence
against subsection (4) may be prosecuted as an indictable offence or
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 $5 000.
(5) In this
section—
"distribution system" has the meaning otherwise assigned to the term under
this Act, and includes a transmission pipeline.