Introduction
CHAPTER 1

1.	Introduction
1.1	Preliminary
1.1.1	References to the Rules
These Rules (the Rules) are called the National Electricity Rules.
1.1.2	Italicised expressions
Italicised expressions in the Rules are defined in the glossary in Chapter 10.
1.1.3	[Deleted]
1.2	Background
The National Electricity Rules are made under the NEL and may be amended from time to time in accordance with the NEL.
1.3	Nomenclature of and references to provisions of a Chapter
1.3.1A1	Definitions
In this rule, "numbered" means identified by one or more numbers or one or more letters, or by a combination of one or more numbers and one or more letters.
1.3.1	Introduction
(a)	This rule applies to provisions inserted after 16 November 2006, and applies unless the context otherwise requires.
1.3.2	Parts, Divisions and Subdivisions
(a)	Chapters may contain numbered Parts.
(b)	Parts may contain numbered Divisions.
(c)	Divisions may contain numbered Subdivisions.
(d)	The following table indicates how Parts, Divisions and Subdivisions may be referred to in the Rules.

Level	Provision	Internal reference in same level	External reference in preceding level	
1	Chapter 1	 	 	
2	Part A	this Part	Part A	
3	Division 1	this Division	Division 1	
4	Subdivision 1	this Subdivision	Subdivision 1	

Note:
The numbering of the provisions in the table is by way of example.
1.3.3	Rules, clauses, paragraphs, subparagraphs and other items
(a)	Chapters, Parts, Divisions and Subdivisions of the Rules may contain numbered rules.
(b)	Rules may contain numbered clauses.
(c)	Rules and clauses may contain numbered paragraphs.
(d)	Paragraphs may contain numbered subparagraphs.
(e)	Subparagraphs may contain numbered items.
(f)	The following table indicates how rules, clauses, paragraphs, subparagraphs and other numbered items may be referred to in the Rules.

Level	Provision	Internal reference in same level	External reference in preceding level	
1	Chapter, Part or Subdivision	 	 	
2	rule 1.2	this rule	rule 1.2	
3	clause 1.2.3	this clause	clause 1.2.3	
4	rule 1.2(a)
clause 1.2.3(a)	this paragraph
this paragraph	paragraph (a)
paragraph (a)	
5	rule 1.2(a)(1)
clause 1.2.3(a)(1)	this subparagraph
this subparagraph	subparagraph (1)
subparagraph (1)	
6	rule 1.2(a)(1)(i)
clause 1.2.3(a)(1)(i)	this rule 1.2(a)(1)(i)
this clause 1.2.3(a)(1)(i)	rule 1.2(a)(1)(i)
clause 1.2.3(a)(1)(i)	
7	rule 1.2(a)(1)(i)(A)
clause 1.2.3(a)(1)(i)(A)	this rule 1.2(a)(1)(i)(A)
this clause 1.2.3(a)(1)(i)(A)	rule 1.2(a)(1)(i)(A)
clause 1.2.3(a)(1)(i)(A)	

Note:
The numbering of the provisions in the table is by way of example.
1.4	Effect of renumbering of provisions of the Rules
(a)	The renumbering of a provision of the Rules by an Amending Rule does not affect anything done or omitted under the provision before the Amending Rule comes into operation.
(b)	A reference (however expressed) in the Rules or in any other document to that provision is taken to be a reference to the provision as renumbered.
(c)	Paragraphs (a) and (b) have effect whether or not the renumbered provision is also relocated.
1.5	[Deleted]
1.6	[Deleted]
1.7	Interpretation
1.7.1	General
In the Rules, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)	headings are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of the Rules;
(b)	words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa;
(c)	words importing a gender include any gender;
(d)	when italicised, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of a word or phrase defined in the Rules have a corresponding meaning;
(e)	an expression importing a natural person includes any company, partnership, trust, joint venture, association, corporation or other body corporate and any government agency;
(f)	a reference to any thing includes a part of that thing;
(g)	a reference to a chapter, condition, clause, schedule or part is to a chapter, condition, clause, schedule or part of the Rules;
(h)	a reference to any statute, regulation, proclamation, order in council, ordinances or by-laws includes all statutes, regulations, proclamations, orders in council, ordinances and by-laws varying, consolidating, re-enacting, extending or replacing them and a reference to a statute includes all regulations, proclamations, orders in council, ordinances, by-laws and determinations issued under that statute;
(i)	a reference to a document or a provision of a document includes an amendment or supplement to, or replacement or novation of, that document or that provision of that document;
(j)	a reference to a person includes that person's executors, administrators, successors, substitutes (including, without limitation, persons taking by novation) and permitted assigns;
(k)	a period of time:
(1)	which dates from a given day or the day of an act or event is to be calculated exclusive of that day; or
(2)	which commences on a given day or the day of an act or event is to be calculated inclusive of that day;
(l)	an event which is required under the Rules to occur on or by a stipulated day which is not a business day may occur on or by the next business day; and
(m)	the schedules to the Rules form part of the Rules.
It is not intended that any of the following provisions of Schedule 2 to the NEL should apply to the Rules:
Clauses 2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31AH, 35, 36, 37 and 38.
This exclusion is in addition to an exclusion that arises from other provisions of the Rules in which an intention is expressed, or from which an intention may be inferred, that a provision of the relevant Schedule is not to apply to the Rules.
1.7.1A	Inconsistency with National Measurement Act
If there is an inconsistency between the Rules and the National Measurement Act, the National Measurement Act prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
1.7.1B	Instruments
(a)	In an instrument made under the Rules:
(1)	a reference to the "National Electricity Law" or "Law" must be regarded as a reference to the National Electricity (NT) Law; and
(2)	a reference to the "National Electricity Rules" or "Rules" must be regarded as a reference to the National Electricity Rules as defined in section 2(1) of the National Electricity (NT) Law.
(b)	Paragraph (a) applies despite any provision to the contrary in an instrument.
(c)	For the purposes of the application in this jurisdiction of an instrument made under the Rules:
(1)	the reference to "the national electricity system" in the national electricity objective stated in section 7 of the Law must be regarded as a reference to one or more, or all, of the local electricity systems, as the case requires;
(2)	if the context or subject matter indicates or requires, a reference in the instrument to:
(i)	"regulatory control period" must be regarded as including a reference to the 2009-14 NT regulatory control period and the 2014-19 NT regulatory control period; and
(ii)	"distribution determination" must be regarded as including a reference to the 2009 NT Network Price Determination and the 2014 NT Network Price Determination; and
(3)	the AER must interpret the instrument consistently with the objects of the application Act of this jurisdiction and the modifications made to the National Electricity Law and the Rules by or under that Act.
(d)	In this clause:
2009 NT Network Price Determination means the "Final Determination – Networks Pricing: 2009 Regulatory Reset" made by the Utilities Commission under the Utilities Commission Act (NT), Electricity Reform Act (NT) and Chapter 6 of the NT Network Access Code that applied from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014.
1.8	Notices
1.8.1	Service of notices under the Rules
A notice is properly given under the Rules to a person if:
(a)	it is personally served;
(b)	a letter containing the notice is prepaid and posted to the person at an address (if any) supplied by the person to the sender for service of notices or, where the person is a Registered Participant, an address shown for that person in the register kept by the Utilities Commission under section 37 of the Electricity Reform Act (NT);
(c)	it is sent to the person by facsimile or electronic mail to a number or reference which corresponds with the address referred to in clause 1.8.1(b); or
(d)	the person receives the notice.
1.8.2	Time of service
A notice is treated as being given to a person by the sender:
(a)	where sent by post in accordance with clause 1.8.1(b) to an address in the central business district of a capital city of Australia, on the second business day after the day on which it is posted;
(b)	where sent by post in accordance with clause 1.8.1(b) to any other address, on the third business day after the day on which it is posted;
(c)	where sent by facsimile in accordance with clause 1.8.1(c) and a complete and correct transmission report is received:
(1)	where the notice is of the type in relation to which the addressee is obliged under the Rules to monitor the receipt by facsimile outside of, as well as during, business hours, on the day of transmission; and
(2)	in all other cases, on the day of transmission if a business day or, if the transmission is on a day which is not a business day or is after 4.00 pm (addressee's time), at 9.00 am on the following business day;
(d)	where sent by electronic mail in accordance with clause 1.8.1(c):
(1)	where the notice is of a type in relation to which the addressee is obliged under the Rules to monitor receipt by electronic mail outside of, as well as during, business hours, on the day when the notice is recorded as having been first received at the electronic mail destination; and
(2)	in all other cases, on the day when the notice is recorded as having been first received at the electronic mail destination if a business day or, if that time is after 4.00 pm (addressee's time) or the day is not a business day, at 9.00 am on the following business day; or
(e)	in any other case, when the person actually receives the notice.
1.8.3	Counting of days
Where a specified period (including, without limitation, a particular number of days) must elapse or expire from or after the giving of a notice before an action may be taken neither the day on which the notice is given nor the day on which the action is to be taken may be counted in reckoning the period.
1.8.4	Reference to addressee
In this rule 1.8, a reference to an addressee includes a reference to an addressee's officers, agents, or employees or any person reasonably believed by the sender to be an officer, agent or employee of the addressee.
1.9	Retention of Records and Documents
Unless otherwise specified in the Rules, all records and documents prepared for or in connection with the Rules must be retained for a period of at least 7 years.
Note
This clause is classified as a civil penalty provision under the National Electricity (South Australia) Regulations. (See clause 6(1) and Schedule 1 of the National Electricity (South Australia) Regulations.)
1.9A	NTESMO’s costs in connection with these Rules
Note
Costs for NTESMO are to be considered as part of the progressive application of the Rules in this jurisdiction.
Where, for any provision of these Rules, a corporate entity is both a Network Service Provider and NTESMO, any costs incurred by that corporate entity in complying with any requirements imposed on NTESMO under a provision where this clause applies are not to be recovered by that corporate entity as a Network Service Provider under Chapter 6.
1.10	[Deleted]
1.11	AEMO Rule Funds
Note:
This rule has no effect in this jurisdiction (see regulation 5A of the National Electricity (Northern Territory) (National Uniform Legislation) (Modification) Regulations).
(a)	AEMO must continue to maintain, in the books of the corporation:
(1)	the registration and administration fund;
(2)	the security deposit fund; and
(3)	any other fund which the Rules provide will be maintained in AEMO's books,
(each being a Rule Fund).
(b)	AEMO must ensure that there is paid into each Rule fund:
(1)	in the case of the registration and administration fund, all amounts of Participant fees and auction expense fees and any other amounts payable under the auction rules or SRD agreements as AEMO considers necessary from time to time other than those which are to be paid into another Rule fund;
(2)	in the case of the security deposit fund, amounts which are received by AEMO under clauses 3.3.8A, 3.3.13(a)(2) and 3.3.13(a)(3);
(3)	in the case of a fund referred to in paragraph (a)(3):
(i)	all amounts which are received by AEMO in connection with carrying out its functions or powers in relation to that fund;
(ii)	all amounts of Participant fees which are received or recovered by AEMO which relate to AEMO's actual or budgeted costs and expenses for carrying out its functions or powers in relation to that fund; and
(4)	in the case of each Rule fund, income from investment of money in the Rule fund.
(c)	In respect of the security deposit fund, AEMO must keep records, in respect of each individual Market Participant, of:
(1)	security deposits made by that Market Participant and actual interest or other income earned on that Market Participant's payments to that fund which will be recorded as credits for that Market Participant;
(2)	any application, or return to that Market Participant, of monies in the security deposit fund in accordance with clause 3.3.13A;
(3)	deductions for liabilities and expenses of the security deposit fund referable, or allocated, to that Market Participant which will be recorded as debits to that Market Participant; and
(4)	the credit or debit balance for that Market Participant.
(d)	AEMO must ensure that money from each Rule fund is only applied in payment of:
(1)	in the case of the registration and administration fund, costs and expenses of AEMO carrying out its functions or powers:
(i)	in relation to a fund referred to paragraph (a)(3) to the extent that such costs and expenses cannot be met from the money contained in that fund; or
(ii)	other than those functions and powers referred to in subparagraph (i);
(2)	in the case of the security deposit fund, monies owing to AEMO by a Market Participant or the return of monies to a Market Participant in accordance with clause 3.3.13A;
(3)	in the case of a fund referred to in paragraph (a)(3), costs and expenses of AEMO carrying out its functions or powers in relation to that fund; and
(4)	in the case of each Rule fund:
(i)	other than the security deposit fund, reimbursement to a Registered Participant or another Rule fund to make any necessary adjustment for any excess amounts which are paid as Participant fees as a result of any of AEMO's actual costs and expenses being less than the budgeted costs and expenses or as a result of the payment of any interim Participant fees; and
(ii)	liabilities or expenses of the Rule fund.