S.L. 545.41 Art. 21Non-payment of charges, suspension and disconnection.     S.L. 545.34.

(1) Where a customer has not, within the requisite period, paid all charges due by him to the distribution system operator in respect of the supply of electricity to any premises or temporary installation or the provision of an electricity meter, the distribution system operator may suspend the supply:

Provided that where the distribution system operator exercises its discretion to suspend supply to and, or disconnect a customer, such discretion shall be exercised in accordance with the procedure published by the distribution system operator for such purpose, to complement the provisions of this regulation:

Provided further that the distribution system operator shall not suspend supply of electricity to, nor disconnect, vulnerable customers where this is prohibited in terms of the Electricity

Regulations.

(2) Where payment of the charges referred to in sub-regulation (1) are delayed for a period of more than three (3) months, the distribution system operator may disconnect the network connection and remove the meter.

(3) Where the connection to a premises or temporary installation is suspended pursuant to sub-regulation (1), the customer shall be required to pay a reconnection fee in accordance with item 15 of the Sixth Schedule in order for the connection to be reinstated. The distribution system operator shall reconnect the premises or temporary installation within twenty-four (24) hours from when payment is effected by the customer, except where this is not practical due to reasons outside the distribution system operator’s control, such as inclement weather conditions.

(4) Where the distribution system operator is authorised by sub-regulation (2) to disconnect any premises or temporary installation or remove a meter, any officer or other person authorised by the distribution system operator may at all reasonable times enter the premises or other location where the temporary installation is situated for the purposes of disconnecting the premises or temporary installation or removing the meter:

Provided that the said power of entry may only be exercised if at least two (2) working days’ notice has been given to the owner or occupier of the premises or other location.

(5) Whenever access to the premises or other location, for purposes of disconnection and removal of the meter in accordance with sub-regulations (2) and (4) is not possible either because of opposition offered from the customer, or due to the building or temporary installation unit being found inaccessible on more than one occasion, the distribution system operator shall be entitled to suspend the connection without any previous notice by disconnecting the electrical installation at the main source, whether this is located above or below ground and the distribution system operator may recover any expenses incurred in doing so from the customer.

(6) The powers of the distribution system operator under sub-regulations (1) and (2) may not be exercised with respect to any amount which is disputed by the customer in good faith, and unless written notice of not less than seven (7) days has been given to the owner or occupier of the premises or temporary installation of the distribution system operator’s intention to exercise the said powers.

(7) Without prejudice to the other provisions of these regulations, where the network connection of any customer and, or the use thereof, is deemed to be detrimental to the services rendered by the distribution system operator to other customers, including without limitation in case of fluctuations of voltage and generation of harmonics, such customer shall be required to install at its expense, the necessary corrective and, or protective equipment within the relevant premises or temporary installation and shall produce a test certificate as may be required by the distribution system operator: Provided that this sub-regulation shall also apply to the network connections to which the electrical installations referred to in regulation 15(4) are connected.