Public Utilities Commission Act 2016 ( No. 19 of 2016)

1. — Short title and commencement.

2. Application.

3. Interpretation.

4. Definition of “public utility”. <!-- page 3 --> 244 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 5™ AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 PART II 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. aes 23. 24. Ps 26. 24 8 PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Establishment of Public Utilities Commission. Term of appointment of members. Emoluments of members. Conflicts of interest of members. Termination of appointment and resignation of members. Disqualification of chairman or other member. Notification of appointment and removal. Oath of Office. Sittings of Commission. Immunity of members from suit. Procedure of Commission. PART III OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES Officers and employees of Commission. Employment of experts. Obtaining services of public officers. Superannuation benefits. PART IV BUDGET AND RESOURCES Budget and resources of Commission. PART V FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION Functions of Commission. Economic research. Advisory function of Commission. Investigations by Commission. PART VI SERVICE AND FACILITIES Duty to provide adequate service. Proper service established on complaint. Commission may order extension of service. <!-- page 4 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 245 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 28. 29. 30. aL, 32. 34. Bas 36. 37. 38. 39, 40. 41. 42. 43. 45. 47. 48. 49. 50. Si. PART VII DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF FACILITIES OR SERVICES Development and expansion programme. Failure to implement development and expansion programme. Restrictions on ceasing operation of service. Power to prescribe quality and standard of service and conditions relating to service to be contained in agreement PART VIII RATES (a) Principles Rates to be just and reasonable. Agreement, licence or law regarding rate of return. Prohibition against discrimination in the matter of rate. Cost of production or generation. Joint use of facilities. Uniformity of rate. (b) Change of rate Continuance of existing rate. Tariffs filing. Adherence to tariffs. Notice of change of rate by public utility. Suspension of new rate. Temporary rates. Burden of proof. Fixation of rate. Adjustment of moneys due on variation of rates. PART IX OTHER REGULATORY PROVISIONS Approval by Commission to issue securities. Form of accounts. Uniform accounts. Interest on customer deposits. Obligation to bill. <!-- page 5 --> 246 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL SuppLeEMENT] — A 5™ AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 PART X PROCEDURE

52. Complaint.

53. Notice of complaint.

54. Security.

55. Representative complaint.

56. Initiation of proceedings by Commission.

57. Fixing of hearing.

58. Hearings to be public.

59. Decision of Commission.

60. Oaths and subpoena.

61. Notice.

62. Proof of agreement.

63. Records of proceedings. PART XI FUNDING OF THE COMMISSION AND COSTS

64. Annual assessment upon public utilities and telecommunications undertakings.

65. Costs of investigation or proceeding. PART XII ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS

66. Execution of order. 67. | Compliance with order in proceedings relating to rate.

68. Enforcement of order by taking over management of business of public utility.

69. Dissolution of public utility in default. PART XIII OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

70. Disobedience of order of Commission.

71. Failure of public utility or telecommunications undertaking to furnish information. 72. | Making or furnishing false return or information.

73. Wilful default by employee, etc. of public utility or telecommunications undertaking in furnishing information.

74. Obstruction of, or interference with, members, officers, etc. of Commission in discharge of duties.

75. Penalty for other offences.

76. Penalty in the case of continuing offence. <!-- page 6 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 247 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 PART XIV REVIEW AND APPEAL

77. Suspension or review by Commission of its own decision or order. 78. | Appeal and other proceedings.

79. Stay of proceedings pending appeal.

80. Determination of question by Court of Appeal. 81. | Case stated upon question of law. PART XV MISCELLANEOUS

82. Duty of public utility and telecommunications undertaking to co-operate with Commission. 83. | Duty of public utility and telecommunications undertaking to furnish information and returns.

84. Ascertainment of value of property of public utility.

85. Annual report.

86. Evidence of documents. 87. | Power of Commission to make rules. 88. | Power of the Minister to make regulations. 89. _— Repeal. 90. _ Transitional Provisions. <!-- page 7 --> 248 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 AN ACT to make provision for the establishment, functions and procedure of the Public Utilities Commission and for matters connected therewith. A D.2016 Short title and commencement. Application. Interpretation. Enacted by the Parliament of Guyana: - PARTI PRELIMINARY This Act may be cited as the Public Utilities Commission Act 2016 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may by order appoint. This Act shall — (a) (b) (c) (1) (a) apply to every public utility engaged in providing any service specified in section 4 (1) (a): Provided that the Minister may by order except from the operation of this Act any public utility defined in section 4 (1) (a); and apply to telecommunications undertakings as specified herein; with effect from such date as may be specified by the Minister by order, apply to any public utility engaged in providing any other service referred to in section 4 (1) (b) as may be specified in that order: Provided that an order under this paragraph may specify that this Act shall apply to any public utility specified in the order with such modifications, restrictions, exclusions and adaptations as may be specified therein. In this Act - “agreement between the Government and a public utility” and “agreement between the Government and a public utility or telecommunications undertaking” means an agreement between the Government and a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking itself, and not between the Government and any parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking; <!-- page 8 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 249 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 (b) "chairman" means the chairman of the Commission, appointed under section 5 (1); (c) "Commission" means the Public Utilities Commission established by section 5; (d) "compensation" includes gain and reward; (e) "consumer", in relation to a public utility, means a person making use of any service provided by the public utility, and where applicable herein in relation to a telecommunications undertaking, shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 2(1) of No. of 2016 the Telecommunications Act 2016; (f) "licence" means permission granted to a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking authorising it to provide a service; (g) "member" means a member of the Commission; (h) =‘ “operator" has the meaning assigned to it in section 2(1) of the Telecommunications Act 2016; (i) "public utility" has the meaning assigned to it by section 4; (j) "rate" means every rate, fare, toll, charge, rental or other compensation or payment whatsoever for any service provided by a public utility; (k) "service" includes the accommodation afforded consumers by a public utility, the supplying or furnishing of any commodity derived directly from the purposes in which a public utility is engaged and the use and accommodation afforded the public by the facilities employed by or in connection with any service provided by a public utility; but does not include any other commodity, by-product or article produced or manufactured by a public utility or any associate thereof that is offered for sale to the public at retail or wholesale prices; and for purposes of telecommunications undertakings, the term "service" has the meaning assigned to the term "telecommunications service" in section 2(1) of the Telecommunications Act 2016; <!-- page 9 --> 250 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 () "service provider" has the meaning assigned to it in No. of 2016 section 2(1) of the Telecommunications Act 2016; (m) "telecommunications undertaking" has the meaning assigned to it in section 2(1) of the Telecommunications Act 2016. (2) In this Act, where a public utility or, where specified herein, a telecommunications undertaking has been granted a licence to operate only in any part or parts of Guyana, references to Guyana shall be construed as references to such part or parts of Guyana. Definition of (1) — Inthis Act "public utility" means any person “public utility.” (including the lessee, trustee, receiver or liquidator of such person) who or which owns facilities used to provide or provides the following services - (a) the production, generation, storage, transmission, sale, delivery, furnishing or supplying, directly or indirectly, to or for the public, of electricity; (b) any other service specified by the Minister by order, being any of the following services - (i) carriage of passengers, in motor buses or hire cars; (ii) _ airport and airline services; (iii) carriage of goods for hire or reward by goods vehicles; (iv) _ lighterage or cargo handling; (v) | dockage, wharfage or related cargo services; (vi) water supply services, except retail deliveries; and (vii) sewerage services. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection (1) or section 3(1)(k), any person, not otherwise a public utility or telecommunications undertaking, who or which provides any service only to a public utility or telecommunications undertaking, or only to himself or itself or his or its employees or tenants, where such service <!-- page 10 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 251 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Cap. 51:02 Establishment of Public Utilities Commission. Term of appointment of members. (3) is not resold to or used by others, shall not be deemed to be a public utility or telecommunications undertaking: Provided, however, that nothing in this subsection or any other provision of this Act shall be interpreted to exclude the application of this Act to persons engaged in wholesale arrangements or any other activity involved in the supply of a service, directly or indirectly, to or for the public. In this section "motor bus", "hire car" and "goods vehicle" have the same meanings as in the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act. PART II PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (2) (3) (2) (1) There is hereby established a Commission to be known as the Public Utilities Commission which shall consist of a chairman and four other members to be appointed by the Minister from among persons appearing to the Minister to be of high character and integrity and to be qualified as having had extensive and relevant professional expertise in trade, finance, economics, law, accounting, engineering, or business management or extensive experience in matters relevant to the functions of the Commission. Prior to appointing the chairman and other members of the Commission under subsection (1), the Minister shall consult with organisations whose concerns are relevant to the functions of the Commission, including consumer groups, the private sector, the legal profession, the public utilities and telecommunications undertakings to be regulated, and the opposition, and shall take their views into account in making appointments. The Commission shall be a body corporate. (1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 9, the members shall hold office for a period of three years but shall be eligible for re-appointment on the expiry of their term. Only for the first constitution of the Commission, upon the enactment of this Act, the Minister shall appoint a chairman for a term of three years, two members for a term <!-- page 11 --> 252 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Emoluments of members. Conflicts of interest of members. 8. of two years, and two members for a term of one year. Any subsequent appointment or re-appointment of the chairman and members shall be for three years. (1) The chairman and other members shall be paid such salary and allowances as may be provided for in the annual budget of the Commission approved by the National Assembly, and the other terms and conditions of appointment of the chairman or any other members shall be such as may be determined by the Minister. (2) The chairman and any other full time member of the Commission shall not, during any term of service on the Commission, hold any position in the Government and, within the five years preceding his appointment to any term, the chairman or other member shall not have held any senior position in a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking under the jurisdiction of the Commission pursuant to this Act or any other applicable written law. (3) The chairman and any other members as may be designated by the Minister shall devote all of their time to the Commission. (1) Amember of the Commission who is interested in any public utility, telecommunications undertaking, company, person or undertaking which is an interested party, or in any other matter, in any proceedings before the Commission, other than as a consumer in relation to any public utility or telecommunications undertaking, affecting a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking shall disclose to the Commission the fact and nature of his interest and shall not take part in any deliberation or any decision of the Commission relating to the said proceedings, and such a disclosure shall forthwith be recorded in the records of the Commission. (2) In the case of the absence or other inability of the chairman to act at any meeting (except for recusal), the chairman may authorise in writing any other member to preside at the meeting; and in case of recusal of the chairman, the remaining members being not less than three shall form a quorum and shall elect one of their numbers to preside at the meeting. 10 <!-- page 12 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 253 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 (3) If, for any reason, there is an insufficiency of members to form a quorum for a meeting, resulting in the Commission not sitting and impeding the proper functioning of the Commission, the Minister may appoint temporarily such number of ad hoc members for such period as may be necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the Commission. (4) The chairman or any other member shall during a period of service with the Commission, refrain from engaging in discussions with any public utility or telecommunications undertaking under the jurisdiction of the Commission regarding his employment by such public utility or telecommunications undertaking and shall be prohibited from accepting employment with any such public utility or telecommunications undertaking for a period of two years after ceasing to be a member of the Commission. Termination of 9. (1) The Minister may terminate the appointment of the appointment and chairman or any other member for any good and sufficient resignation of cause, and in particular, if the chairman or other member - members. (a) becomes of unsound mind or incapable of carrying out his duties; (b) becomes bankrupt or compounds with his creditors; (c) is convicted of any felony or misdemeanor; (d) is guilty of conduct inconsistent with membership of the Commission; (e) except for the reason provided for in section 8 (1), is absent, except on leave granted by the Commission, from all meetings of the Commission held during two consecutive months, or during any three months in any period of twelve months; (f) fails to carry out any of the duties or functions conferred or imposed on him by this Act: Provided that the appointment of the chairman or other member shall not be terminated under this subsection unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (2) A member may resign from his office by letter 11 <!-- page 13 --> 254 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Disqualification of 10. chairman or other member. addressed to the Minister. (1) The chairman or any other member shall not directly or indirectly - (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) hold, acquire or become interested in any share, stock, debenture or other security of any public utility or telecommunications undertaking; have any interest in any contract or agreement for the construction of any works or the providing of goods or any services for or by any public utility or telecommunications undertaking; have any interest in any device, appliance, machine, article, patent or patented process, or any part thereof, which is required or used by any public utility or telecommunications undertaking for the purpose of its equipment or service; hire themselves as consultants or hire as consultants for the Commission any company or entity in which they have any interest, directly or indirectly; receive any other benefit, directly or indirectly, from a public utility, a telecommunications undertaking, or any group, association or person appearing at or interested in any proceedings of the Commission: Provided that the chairman or any other member shall not be deemed to have any interest in a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking by reason of the fact that he uses a motor bus or hire car of any public utility or that he is the user or subscriber of a telephone, or the user or purchaser of electric current, or that in the ordinary course he is a user of any other service of a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking subject to this Act; disclose any information of a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking for which confidentiality is required under this Act or any other applicable law. 12 <!-- page 14 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 255 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Notification of appointment and removal. Oath of Office. Sittings of Commission. Immunity of members from suit. 11. 12. 13. (2) Any person disqualified under subsection (1) shall not be appointed as the chairman or other member and in case he is so appointed, when the matter comes to the knowledge of the Minister, he shall terminate the appointment of such person as chairman or other member: Provided that the appointment of any person as chairman or other member shall not be terminated under this subsection unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (3) Where the chairman or any other member has committed a breach of subsection (1) he shall be deemed to be guilty of misconduct, The appointment, termination of appointment and removal of the chairman and other members shall be published in the Gazette. It shall be the duty of the chairman and other members to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation that he will faithfully, fully and impartially, and to the best of his ability, discharge the trust, and perform the duties devolving upon him by virtue of his appointment, which oath or affirmation may be taken before the President, and shall be deposited by the chairman or other member in the Ministry of the Presidency. (1) |The headquarters of the Commission shall be at Georgetown, but the Commission may, for convenience generally, hold its sittings at any other place in Guyana (2) No sitting or order of the Commission shall be deemed to be invalid or ineffective only on the ground that there was a vacancy in the Commission or any member did not participate in a sitting of the Commission: Provided that a quorum of three members including the chairman or the person authorised or elected to preside at the meeting participated in the sitting of the Commission. No action, suit, prosecution or other proceedings shall be brought or instituted personally against the chairman or any member, officer or employee of the Commission in respect of any act done bona fide in pursuance or execution or intended execution of his duties or powers under this Act. 13 <!-- page 15 --> 256 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Procedure of Commission. Officers and employees of the Commission. Employment of experts. Cap. 73:05 Obtaining services of public officers. 15. 16. Ls 18. Subject to the provisions of this Act or any other law, the Commission may regulate its own procedure and may make rules for that purpose, which rules shall be effective upon publication in the Official Gazette and reasonable notice to interested parties. (2) (2) (3) (4) PART II OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES (1) The Commission shall employ a secretary, and such other officers and employees as are required for the proper conduct of the business of the Commission. The remuneration and other terms and conditions of employment (including the payment of any pension, gratuity or other like benefits by reference to their service) of the secretary and other officers and employees of the Commission shall be such as may be determined or varied by the Commission from time to time. (1) |The Commission may at any time, after consultation with the Minister, retain the services of professional persons and determine the remuneration payable to such persons and their other terms and conditions of appointment. Section 10 shall mutatis mutandis apply to professional persons considered for retention, or retained, by the Commission pursuant to subsection (1). In retaining the services of professional persons to serve as external experts, the Commission shall be subject to the Procurement Act and the regulations made thereunder, and for those purposes the Commission shall be considered an “agency” as that term is used in that Act and regulations. Recommendations of professional persons retained by the Commission pursuant to this section shall not be binding on the Commission. (1) For the purposes of any enquiry or examination conducted by it or in the performance of any of the other functions conferred on it by this Act, the Commission may, with the consent of the appropriate authority, utilise the services of any public officer or other employee of the 14 <!-- page 16 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 257 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Superannuation 19. benefits. Cap. 19:05 Budget and 20. resources of Commission. Government. (2) In this section "appropriate authority," in relation to any public officer or other employee of the Government, means the person or authority vested with power to appoint such public officer or employee of the Government to the position he holds in the Government. (1) Section 28 of the Public Corporations Act shall mutatis mutandis apply to public officers, persons (not being public officers) holding appointments in the public service, and teachers, referred to therein, who are seconded, temporarily transferred or transferred to the Commission as if the Commission were a public corporation. (2) The Commission may make such provisions as it deems appropriate for the payment of pension, gratuity or other allowances in respect of the service of its officers and other employees on their retirement from their employment with the Commission. PART IV BUDGET AND RESOURCES (2) (3) (1) |The Commission shall determine its own annual budget for submission to the Minister of Finance for inclusion in the annual budget presented to the National Assembly. The Commission shall have the discretion and authority to disburse funds obtained in accordance with this Act, subject to the provisions of any other written law. The funds and resources of the Commission shall consist of- (a) sums assessed by the Commission and paid over to it by public utilities and telecommunications undertakings in accordance with Part XI and any other applicable law; (b) any property or investment acquired by, or vested in, the Commission; (c) moneys earned or arising from any property or investment acquired by, or vested in, the 15 <!-- page 17 --> 258 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 5™ AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Commission; (d) sums provided to the Commission by or under any appropriation law; (e) sums allocated from time to time to the Commission from loan funds; (f) sums borrowed by the Commission for the purpose of meeting any of its obligations or the performance of any of its functions; and (g) all other sums or property which may in any manner become payable to or vested in the Commission in respect of any matter incidental to its functions. (4) Except to the extent that this Act or any other applicable written law, or regulations made under any of them, may designate the payment of fines and penalties to the Commission, all sums assessed by the Commission in the nature of fines or penalties imposed upon a public utility, a telecommunications undertaking, or any other company or person under this Act shall be paid directly to the Accountant General by such public utility, telecommunications undertaking, or other company or person. (5) The charges on any amount which may be allocated to the Commission from any loan funds shall be met by the Commission except that all or any part of such charges may be met out of moneys provided by or under any appropriation law. (6) For the purposes of this section, the expression "loan funds" means such sums as may be made available from time to time to the Government by way of loan. PART V FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION Functions of Zi. (1) |The Commission shall perform the regulatory, Commission. investigatory, enforcement and other functions conferred on it by this Act and any other applicable written law. (2) —_Incarrying out the functions mentioned in subsection (1), the Commission shall be bound by and Cap. 56:04 shall give effect to, the provisions of the Guyana Energy Cap. 56:01 Agency Act, the Electricity Sector Reform Act, the 16 <!-- page 18 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 259 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 No. of 2016 Economic research. 22. (3) (4) (5) Telecommunications Act 2016, any other law governing a public utility or telecommunications undertaking subject to the Commission's jurisdiction, the terms of any licence issued by the Government to a public utility or telecommunications undertaking, and the terms of any agreement between the Government and a public utility or telecommunications undertaking or between the Government and an investor, which agreement is in relation to the privatisation or capitalisation of the public utility or telecommunications undertaking; and in the event of a conflict between such agreements or licence and any existing written law, the agreements or licence shall prevail. For purposes of this subsection and section 33, "written law" shall not include the Constitution. The decisions and orders of the Commission shall be fair, in accordance with this Act and other written laws in operation in Guyana and, subject to any rule of law or provision of this Act or other laws referred to in subsection (2) relating to burden of proof, based on the evidence presented to the Commission. Subject to the provisions of this Act, in the exercise and discharge of its functions, the Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority. The Commission has power to do anything which in the reasonable opinion of the Commission is calculated to facilitate the proper discharge of its functions or is incidental thereto. The Commission may establish an office of economic research which shall have the following functions - (a) (b) (c) (d) collecting and compiling any information which may be of assistance to the Commission in the exercise or discharge of its functions under this Act; keeping the information so collected and compiled up-to- date; conducting studies of economy and efficiency; making such valuations of the property of a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking as are required by the Commission; 17 <!-- page 19 --> 260 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Advisory function of Commission. Investigations by Commission. Duty to provide adequate service. 23. 24. 25. (e) monitoring regulatory trends in Guyana and other countries to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and modernity of the Commission's internal operations and its decision-making on standards and quality of service, pricing and evaluation of development and expansion programmes; and (f) such other functions as are incidental to any of the functions mentioned above. The Commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the Minister in such matters concerning public utilities and telecommunications undertakings as are referred to it by the Minister. For the purposes of the exercise and discharge of the functions of the Commission under this Act and as may be specified in any other applicable law, the Commission shall have power to initiate and conduct investigations into the operations and standards of service of any public utility or telecommunications undertaking. PART VI SERVICE AND FACILITIES (1) Subject to subsection (2), every public utility shall maintain its property and equipment in such condition as to enable it to provide, and shall make every reasonable effort to provide, service to the public in all respects safe, adequate, efficient, reasonable and non-discriminatory and shall make all such repairs, changes, alterations, substitutions, extensions and improvements in or to such service as shall be necessary or proper for the accommodation and convenience of the public or as shall be necessary to incorporate, from time to time, advances in technology. (2) Where an agreement exists between the Government and a public utility, or an agreement for the privatisation or capitalisation of a public utility exists between the Government and an investor, or the licence granted to the public utility or a written law makes provisions for the standard or quality of service, the service provided by the public utility shall be deemed by the Commission, for the purposes of this Act to be reasonable or adequate if the aforesaid standard or quality is achieved and maintained. 18 <!-- page 20 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 261 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 Proper service established on complaint. Commission may order extension of service. 26. 27. (2) (2) (3) (4) (1) Where the Commission, after a hearing upon its own motion or upon a complaint, finds that the service provided by a public utility is not in accordance with section 25, the Commission shall by order determine and prescribe the adequate or reasonable service to be provided by the public utility, including all such repairs, changes, alterations, extensions, substitutions or improvements and facilities as shall be reasonably necessary and proper for the accommodation and convenience of the public; and, subject to any other written law, may also direct the public utility to pay to any consumer compensation for loss or damage suffered by the consumer on account of the failure of the public utility to comply with section 25. An order under subsection (1) shall specify reasonable time to comply with the same or, where the compliance is to be in stages, different times may be specified to comply with each stage. (1) Subject to section 21 where the Commission, after hearing upon its own motion or upon complaint, finds that an extension by any public utility of existing service would in the opinion of the Commission provide sufficient business to justify the construction and maintenance of such extension, the Commission may order the public utility to make such extension to its service as the Commission may deem reasonable and expedient. Where a licence granted to a public utility restricts its service to specified areas, an order under subsection (1) shall not require it to extend the service to any area outside the specified areas. Where a licence granted to a public utility contains a mechanism for dealing with extension of service, any order under subsection (1) shall comply with the provisions of that mechanism. For the purposes of this section "sufficient business" means such business as will yield such gross revenue, within the extended area of service at the rates for the time being authorised, as will produce a sum not less than the cost of operations, maintenance and depreciation and will produce a reasonable return on the capital outlay in respect of such extension: 19 [No. 19 <!-- page 21 --> 262 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Development and expansion programme. 28. Provided that the Minister and a public utility may agree as to what shall be "sufficient business," in relation to that public utility and where any such agreement is arrived at, the Commission shall have regard to that agreement in determining whether the extension of the service will provide sufficient business. PART VII DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF FACILITIES OR SERVICES (2) (3) (1) — Subject to any written law, a public utility must submit for the approval of the Commission any programme for development and expansion of facilities or services, specifying the period within which it will be implemented, the arrangements for financing and any other information required to be submitted to the Commission by any written law. The Commission, after considering all the relevant aspects of the proposed development and expansion programme, including - (a) the benefits to be accrued to consumers of the service rendered by the public utility as a result of the implementation of the development and expansion programme; (b) the reasonableness of the cost and other terms and conditions of the financing arrangement for the development and expansion programme; and (c) any other criteria set forth in any written law or a licence, may approve or reject the programme or may require the public utility to modify the programme suitably. The Commission shall, within a period not exceeding ninety days, consider and render a decision approving or rejecting, or requiring the suitable modification of, a development and expansion programme submitted to the Commission by a public utility, and, to the extent that the standard or quality of service that a public utility is 20 <!-- page 22 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 263 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 (4) (5) Failure to 29. implement development and expansion programme. required to provide pursuant to section 25, 26 or 27 is directly and materially dependent upon approval of a development and expansion programme, a public utility shall be excused from providing such standard or quality of service pending approval of such programme by the Commission. Where an agreement exists between the Government and the public utility, or an agreement for the privatisation or capitalisation of a public utility exists between the Government and an investor, or the licence granted to the public utility or a written law makes provisions for programmes for the development and expansion of the facilities or services of a public utility, such programmes shall be deemed to be approved by the Commission in accordance with those provisions upon receipt thereof by the Commission. With respect to a development and expansion programme submitted to the Commission under this Part, the Commission shall make the information included in such programme available to consumers at a reasonable cost to the consumer to be set by the Commission: Provided that, in making such information available to consumers, the Commission shall take all due and reasonable care to protect and shall not publish or otherwise make available the trade secrets of the public utility, third party confidential information or any other information that may aid a competitor of the public utility, and such public utility may request that such information be maintained in confidence by the Commission and the Commission shall cooperate with the public utility in that regard. (1) Where the Commission, upon its own motion or upon a complaint by the Minister or an aggrieved party and after giving the complainant and the public utility a reasonable opportunity of being heard, finds that a public utility is not carrying out a development and expansion programme in the manner approved by the Commission or as provided in a licence or an agreement between the Government and a public utility or between the Government and an investor in relation to a privatisation or capitalisation of a public utility or that the utility has failed or refused to implement the development and expansion 21 <!-- page 23 --> 264 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Restrictions on 30. ceasing operation of service. Power to prescribe 31. quality and (2) programme in a timely manner in any material respect, without lawful excuse, the Commission may, without prejudice to sections 68 and 69 and subject to the terms of the public utility's licence, by its order - (a) direct the public utility to pay to the Accountant General such penalty as the Commission, taking into account the extent and severity of the harm caused, thinks fit, being not less than one hundred thousand dollars nor more than twenty million dollars: Provided that the imposition of any such penalty shall not affect the contractual rights or obligations of any party and, in particular, shall not alleviate or substitute for full and satisfactory performance of any contractual obligations undertaken by a public utility; (b) recommend to the Government the suspension or cancellation of the licence granted to the public utility; or (c) make such other order as it thinks appropriate having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case. Nothing in subsection (1) shall be deemed to prevent or restrict in any manner any power vested in the Minister or the Government to revoke, suspend or cancel any licence granted to a public utility under the terms and conditions of the licence, the agreement entered into between the Government and the public utility or between the Government and an investor in relation to a privatisation or capitalisation of a public utility, any written law or otherwise. Except where a licence expires or is revoked, suspended, cancelled or terminated in accordance with the conditions of the licence, no public utility shall cease to supply services within its authorised area or any part thereof without first obtaining the permission of the Commission. Subject to sections 21 (2) and 25 (2), the Commission may make rules prescribing - 22 <!-- page 24 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SuppLEMENT] — A 5™ AUGUST, 2016 265 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 standard of service (a) the quality and standard to be achieved and maintained by a and conditions public utility in respect of any service provided by it; and relating to service to be contained in (b) the conditions to be contained in, and to become part of, all agreement. agreements entered into by a public utility and consumers Rates to be just and 32. reasonable. Agreement, licence 33. or law regarding rate of return. in respect of any service provided by it. PART VIII RATES (a) Principles (1) Every rate made, demanded or received by any public utility from persons making use of the service provided by it, shall be just and reasonable and in conformity with any written law and with such rules as the Commission may from time to time prescribe. (2) In determining the rate a public utility may charge for any service provided by it, the Commission shall have regard to consumer interest and investor interest and to the rate of return obtained in other enterprises having commensurate risks, provision of safe and adequate service at reasonable costs, and to assuring the financial integrity of the enterprise. Where the Government and a public utility have entered into an agreement, or where the Government and an investor have entered into an agreement, in relation to the privatisation or capitalisation of the public utility, or where the Government has issued a licence to a public utility, or where a law exists, specifying - (a) __ the rate of return the public utility or the investor is entitled to in respect of the capital invested or dedicated for providing any service; or (b) _ the principles, procedures, formulae or mechanisms, on the basis of which such rate of return and, thereby, any rate charged by a public utility is to be determined or adjusted, the Commission shall be bound by and shall give effect to such agreement, licence or law in determining the rate a public utility is entitled to demand or receive from any consumer or class of consumers or generally from all consumers in relation to the service; and in the event of a conflict between such agreement or licence and any written law, the agreement or licence shall prevail. 23 <!-- page 25 --> 266 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Prohibition against 34. discrimination in the matter of rate. Cost of production 35. or generation. Joint use of 36. facilities. (1) No public utility shall provide to any person any service at a rate which is unduly preferential or discriminatory. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall be deemed to prevent a public utility from demanding and receiving different rates from different classes of consumers. (1) For the purpose of determining the cost of providing any service by a public utility, so as to determine the rate a public utility is entitled to demand and receive, the Commission shall have power and authority to investigate and, subject to section 33, decide whether any expenditure incurred by the public utility is justified or reasonable. (2) Subject to any written law, where a public utility does not itself produce or generate that which it distributes, transmits or supplies to the consumers but obtains the same from another source, the Commission shall have the power and authority to investigate the cost of such production or generation in any investigation or enquiry as to the reasonableness of the rate being charged or proposed to be charged by the public utility for any service provided by it. (1) Subject to sections 21 (2) and 33, any public utility having tracks, conduits, poles, wires, works or other equipment shall, for a reasonable compensation (which in the case of any dispute shall be decided by the Commission on the complaint of any of the parties to the dispute), permit the use of the same by any other public utility where - (a) convenience or necessity requires such use; and (b) — such use will not result in irreparable injury to the owners or other users of such equipment, or in any substantial detriment to the service provided by or to such owners or other users. (2) Subject to sections 21 (2) and 33, the Commission may, after investigation and hearing as to whether it — (a) isin furtherance of convenience to, or the necessity of, the public, including specifically, but not exclusively, the public interest in service that is safe, adequate and economical; 24 <!-- page 26 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 267 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 (b) will not result in irreparable injury or detriment to the owner or user of such facilities or equipment without adequate compensation; and (c) is just and reasonable, by order require that two or more public utilities enter into such arrangements, for interchange, joint or combined or other arrangements for the provision of any service, upon such terms and conditions as the Commission may determine. (3) The use of any facility or equipment, or the provision of any service, referred to in subsection (1) or (2) shall be permitted by the public utility required to do so, and the terms and conditions and compensation referred to therein shall be deemed to be lawful terms and conditions and compensation to be observed, followed and paid. (4) An order of the Commission in respect of any matter referred to in subsection (1) or (2) may be modified or revoked by the Commission upon its own initiative or on receipt of a complaint from any public utility or consumer affected thereby. (5) (a) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to interconnection, access, collocation, or sharing of facilities between telecommunications undertakings, or collocation or sharing of facilities and utility installations between telecommunications undertakings and public utilities, which matters shall be governed by the Telecommunications Act 2016 and the regulations issued thereunder. (b) For purposes of this subsection, the terms "interconnection", "access", "collocation", "facilities", and "utility installations" shall have the meanings assigned to them in the No. of 2016 Telecommunications Act 2016 and the regulations issued thereunder. Uniformity of rate. 37. (1) Subject to sections 32 and 33, it shall be lawful for a public utility to demand and receive, or for the Commission to fix, a uniform rate, to be charged from all consumers or any class of consumers throughout Guyana, or throughout any region into which Guyana is divided, for 25 <!-- page 27 --> 268 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Continuance of existing rate. Tariffs filing. Adherence to tariffs. 38. 39. 40. any service, provided by a public utility, notwithstanding that the cost of providing such service in any area of Guyana is different from the cost of providing the service in any other area of Guyana. (2) Subject to sections 32 and 33, the Commission may, having regard to all relevant matters such as the distribution of the population of Guyana, the need for making the best use of the natural resources of Guyana and the needs of the economic development of Guyana, direct the public utility to charge a uniform rate throughout Guyana, or throughout any region into which Guyana is divided, for any service provided by a public utility and the public utility shall comply with the direction. (b) Change of Rate The rate being charged by a public utility on the first day of January, 2016 for any service rendered by it shall not be increased, after that date except in accordance with the provisions of this Act or any other written law: Provided that nothing in this section shall affect an accrued right of any person regarding an increase in rates which came into existence after the first day of January, 2016, by virtue of a finding of a court of law or otherwise. (1) Subject to section 33, every public utility shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, and thereafter periodically within such time as may he specified by the Commission or any written law, file with the Commission in such form as it may specify, tariffs showing all rates actually being charged by the public utility from the first day of January, 2016 until the coming into operation of this Act, including rates for new services, and shall keep copies of such tariffs open to the public for inspection. (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the rates specified in such tariffs shall become the authorised rates of such public utility only if approved in accordance with the provisions of this Act or any other written law. (1) No public utility shall, directly or indirectly, demand or receive, for any service provided by it, a greater or lesser rate than the rate specified in the tariffs of such public utility applicable thereto, filed in the manner 26 <!-- page 28 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 269 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Notice of change of 41. rate by public utility. (3) prescribed by this Act or determined by the Commission. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, it shall be lawful for a public utility, with the permission of the Commission, to demand and receive from a consumer any special rate agreed to by the public utility and such consumer. (1) Subject to section 33, where a public utility initiates a new service for which rates will be charged or is desirous of changing any rate or rates being charged by it for any service provided by it, the public utility shall give thirty days notice to the Commission and file with that notice a tariff stating the rate for the new service or the new rate or rates. (2) A notice under subsection (1) shall state - (a) where it relates to changing any rate or rates - (i) the existing and duly established rate or rates; (ii) | the changes proposed to be made in the rate or rates; (iii) the date from which the changed rate or rates are to take effect; (iv) _ the reasons for the change in rate or rates; and (v) any other particulars reasonably required by the Commission or specified by any written law; (b) where it relates to the rate for any new service - (i) the date from which the rate for the new service is to take effect, and (ii) any other particulars reasonably required by the Commission or specified by any written law. Subject to section 33, where the public utility has filed with the Commission any tariff stating any new rate or rates in respect of any service provided by it, the 27 <!-- page 29 --> 270 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Suspension of new rate. 42. (4) (3) Commission may, either upon complaint or upon its own motion, enter upon a hearing to determine whether such rate or rates are just and reasonable and where the Commission does not enter upon such hearing within thirty days of the filing of the tariff stating the new rate or rates, such new rate or rates shall be deemed to be the authorised rate or rates for the service. Hearings entered upon by the Commission under this section shall be promptly scheduled and held, and the decisions of the Commission under this section shall be rendered as expeditiously as possible and, in any case, not later than sixty days after the closing of the hearings. (1) | Where the Commission has entered upon a hearing as stated in section 41 (3) in respect of any new rate proposed to be charged by a public utility for any service, pending such hearing and the decision thereon, the Commission may, upon delivering to the public utility affected thereby a statement in writing of its reasons therefor, at any time before such new rate becomes effective, suspend the operation of such rate for a period not longer than six months from the time the rate would otherwise become effective, but where a public utility fails to comply with a request from the Commission for information required for the hearing, the Commission may extend the period of suspension for such period not exceeding three months as may be necessary. (2) Where the operation of a new rate is suspended under subsection (1), the rate in force, when the tariff stating the new rate was filed under section 41 (1), shall continue in force unless, the Commission establishes a temporary rate under section 43. If the hearing entered upon under section 41 (3) in respect of a new or changed rate has not been concluded and an order containing the final decision of the Commission has not been made by the Commission before the expiry of the suspension period imposed by the Commission under subsection (1), and the Commission has not set a temporary rate under section 43, then the proposed new or changed rate shall come into effect on the expiry of the period of such suspension: Provided that if the rate finally determined as fair and reasonable by the Commission is less 28 <!-- page 30 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 271 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Temporary rates. 43. (4) than the proposed new or changed rate, the consumers shall have the right to receive reimbursement as provided in section 46(2). Hearings entered upon by the Commission under this section shall be promptly scheduled and held, and the decisions of the Commission under this section shall be rendered as expeditiously as possible and, in any case, not later than sixty days after the closing of the hearing. (1) Onaprima facie consideration of the criteria set forth in section 32 (2) or, as the case may be, subject to the terms of any written law, licence or agreement between the Government and a public utility or between the Government and an investor referred to in section 33, the Commission may, in any proceedings initiated under section 41 (3) involving the rate or rates charged or to be charged by a public utility, initiate either upon its own motion or upon a complaint, if the Commission is of the opinion that the public interest so requires, by order fix a temporary rate or rates to be charged by such public utility pending the final decision in such proceedings. (2) Any temporary rate or rates fixed under subsection (1) shall be effective from a date specified in the order until the final decision in the proceedings of the Commission referred to in subsection (1), unless modified or terminated sooner by the Commission. (3) Subject to sections 32 (1) and 33, where the Commission, upon examination of any annual or other report or of any papers, records, books or other documents or on the appraisal of the property of any public utility, is of the opinion that having regard to the criteria set forth in section 32 (2), any rate or rates charged by such public utility are producing a return in excess of a fair return upon the fair value of the property of such public utility, used or useful in the service provided by it, the Commission may by order fix for a trial period not exceeding six months such temporary rate or rates to be observed by such public utility as, in the opinion of the Commission, will produce a fair return upon such fair value, and the rate or rates so fixed shall be effective from a date specified in the order of the Commission and shall become permanent at the end of such trial period, unless modified or terminated at any time during such trial period by the Commission. 29 <!-- page 31 --> 272 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Burden of proof. Fixation of rate. 44, 45. (4) No order shall be made by the Commission under this section fixing a temporary rate or modifying or terminating such temporary rate without giving the public utility and the consumers affected thereby a reasonable opportunity of being heard, having regard to the fact that the rate proposed to be fixed or modified or terminated is only a temporary rate. (1) Subject to sections 32 and 33, in any proceeding, upon the motion of the Commission involving, or in proceeding upon complaint by a consumer involving, any proposed increase in any rate charged by any public utility for any service, the burden of proof to show that the rate involved is just and reasonable shall be upon the public utility. (2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1), in any proceeding upon complaint by a consumer involving any rate then being charged by a public utility consequent upon a final decision by the Commission or by the operation of section 43 (3), the burden of proof to show that the rate involved is not just or reasonable shall initially be upon the complainant: Provided that the public utility has complied with sections 82 and 83. (1) Subject to sections 32 and 33, where the Commission - (a) after a hearing upon its own motion or upon complaint finds that any rate being charged by any public utility for any service is unjust or unreasonable; or (b) at the conclusion of any hearing under section 41(3) concludes that any new rate filed by a public utility for any service is unjust or unreasonable, the Commission shall determine the just and reasonable rate (including the maximum and minimum rates) to be thereafter observed by the public utility and shall fix the same by order served on the public utility, and such rate shall constitute the legal rate the public utility is entitled to demand and receive for the service, until such rate is changed in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 30 <!-- page 32 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 273 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Adjustment of moneys due on variation of rates. Approval by 46. 47. (2) (3) Any rate lawfully being charged by a public utility shall not be decreased by the Commission in relation to a period earlier than the date on which the Commission commenced a hearing which resulted in the decrease, and for the purpose of this section, a hearing does not include a re- hearing. Hearings entered upon by the Commission under this section shall be promptly commenced, scheduled and held. (1) Subject to section 33, where any rate as finally determined by the Commission is in excess of the rate existing prior to the filing with the Commission by a public utility of a tariff stating a new rate under section 41(1), or of the rate fixed temporarily under section 43 then the public utility shall be permitted by the Commission to amortize and recover, by means of a temporary increase in the rate as finally determined, the sum which represents the difference between the gross revenue actually received by the public utility during the period commencing with the date on which, under the notice given by it to the Commission, the new rate was to have come into effect and ending on the date on which the rate as finally determined by the Commission became effective, and the gross revenue which would have been received by the public utility during the same period if the rate as finally determined by the Commission had been in effect. (2) Subject to section 33, where, consequent on an order finally determining the rate that a public utility is entitled to demand and receive for any service provided by it, any consumer becomes entitled to receive any sum from the public utility, it shall be adjusted towards any sum likely to become due to the public utility from the consumer for a reasonable future period, to be determined by the Commission taking the interests of the public utility and the consumer into consideration, or the remainder paid in cash to the consumer net of any amounts owed to the public utility if before the expiry of the aforesaid period he ceases to be a consumer in relation to the public utility. PART IX OTHER REGULATORY PROVISIONS (1) No public utility shall issue any stocks, shares or 31 <!-- page 33 --> 274 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Commission to issue securities. Form of accounts, Uniform accounts. 48, 49. (2) (3) debentures or other evidence of indebtedness, payable after more than one year from the date thereof, unless it has first obtained the approval of the Commission for the proposed issue or unless it has been authorised by and issued in accordance with an agreement between the Government and a public utility or between the Government and an investor for the privatisation or capitalisation of a public utility. The Commission may grant the approval for the proposed issue in the amount applied for or in any lesser amount and subject to such conditions as it may deem reasonable or necessary to impose and the public utility shall report on such issue to the Commission. Where a development and expansion programme, including the financial arrangement for the same, has been approved by the Commission under section 28, it shall not be necessary for the public utility to obtain the approval of the Commission separately under this section for the issue of any stocks, shares or debentures or other evidence of any indebtedness in relation to the financial arrangement so approved by the Commission. Subject to the terms of a licence, the Commission may by rules prescribe the forms of all books, accounts, papers and other records required to be kept by every public utility, and every public utility shall keep and render its books, accounts, papers and other records accurately and faithfully in accordance with internationally accepted accounting principles in Guyana in the form and manner so prescribed by the Commission, and shall comply with all directions of the Commission relating to such books, accounts, papers and other records. (1) | Every public utility shall keep and render to the Commission in the form and manner referred in section 48 uniform accounts of all business transacted by it in relation to the service provided by it. (2) Every public utility engaged directly or indirectly in any business other than the provision of any service, shall, if so required by the Commission, keep and render separately to the Commission, in the form and manner referred to in section 48, the accounts of all such other business, and this section and section 48 shall apply to the books, accounts, papers and other records of such other business in the same manner as they apply to the books, 32 <!-- page 34 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 275 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 accounts, papers and other records of the public utility in respect of the service provided by it. Interest on 50. (1) Every public utility which requires its consumers, as customer deposits. a condition precedent to receiving any service offered by such public utility, to make cash deposits with the public utility to secure payment of the sums payable for availing of such service, shall pay interest on such cash deposits at a rate that is equivalent to the average treasury bill rate for the preceding three hundred and sixty-four days or such other rate as may be specified in any other written law, a licence held by the public utility or an agreement between the Government and the public utility, or between the Government and an investor, in relation to privatisation or capitalisation of the public utility. (2) The amount payable by a public utility to a consumer by way of interest under subsection (1) shall be paid to the consumer along with the cash deposit upon termination of the service for any reason, other than unjustifiable nonpayment of the sums due to the public utility from the consumer on account of the service provided by the public utility to the consumer: Provided that interest shall not be payable by the public utility upon deposits held by the public utility for less than six months: Provided further that the consumer may, upon application therefor in the form prescribed by the Commission by rules and supplied by the public utility, obtain periodic payments of accumulated interest during the continuance of the provision of the service when the interest equals or exceeds one thousand dollars: Provided further that, notwithstanding the preceding proviso, a public utility may off-set accumulated interest against sums due from the relevant consumer, and shall report any such offset accurately and clearly on the next billing statement rendered to such consumer. (3) Every public utility to which subsections (1) and (2) apply shall disclose to the consumer with its final billing statement in each calendar year, the amount of interest which has accumulated on the cash deposit during that 33 <!-- page 35 --> 276 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 5™ AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 calendar year and the total amount of interest which has accumulated and has not been paid to the consumer under subsection (2). Obligation to bill. 51. Every public utility shall supply every consumer every month, or at Complaint. such other intervals as may be agreed to by the Commission or provided for in a licence or any written law in relation to any consumer or class of consumers, a bill showing the sum payable by the consumer on account of any service provided by the public utility during the preceding month, or other relevant period as may be agreed to by the Commission, or for such other intervals and periods as may be prescribed in its licence. PART X PROCEDURE

52. (1) Acomplaint under this Act or any other applicable law against a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking may be made by the Minister or any person (including any other public utility or telecommunications undertaking) having an interest in the subject matter. (2) Acomplaint shall state the particulars of the act or omission complained of, the public utility or telecommunications undertaking against which the complaint is made, the identity of the entity that has suffered damages caused by such act or omission and the amount of such damages, and the relief sought. (3) |The Commission may make rules prescribing the form in which any complaint shall be made: Provided that a complaint that furnishes the particulars and information required to be provided by the form shall not be rejected only on the ground that it is not strictly in accordance with the form. (4) (a) The Commission shall resolve every complaint brought by a consumer, or by the Minister or the Commission itself, regarding any bill issued by a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking to the consumer, by the issuance of an order, binding upon the consumer and the public utility or telecommunications undertaking, within one hundred and twenty days following the initiation of the complaint with or by the Commission, and every order issued shall be binding upon the consumer and the public utility or telecommunications undertaking, as the case may 34 <!-- page 36 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 277 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Notice of complaint. Security. Representative complaint. 53. 54. 55. be. (b) Every order issued under paragraph (a) shall be based upon the Commission’s review of the evidence as may have been submitted to it by the consumer and the public utility or telecommunications undertaking, and any evidence developed by the Commission itself, within a one hundred and twenty day period, and shall require the consumer to pay any amount owing to the public utility or the telecommunications undertaking, or the public utility or telecommunications undertaking to credit any amounts due to the consumer to his account, within a reasonable time, but in any event not more than ninety days from the date of the order. (c ) The Commission shall make rules, subject to the approval of the Minister, governing the procedure for determining the consumer’s complaints provided for in paragraph (a). (5) To the extent that any other applicable law varies or supplements the provisions of this Part, such law or regulations shall apply, but the provisions of this Part that are not so varied or supplemented shall continue to apply as provided herein. Upon the filing of a complaint against a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking, the Commission shall cause a copy thereof to be served upon the public utility or telecommunications undertaking, accompanied by a notice from the Commission requiring the public utility or telecommunications undertaking to satisfy the complaint, or to answer the same in writing, within such reasonable time as may be specified by the Commission in such notice: Provided that the Commission shall have power, for good and sufficient cause shown, to extend the time so specified. The Commission may require the complainant, not being the Government, to give security for the costs of the hearing and investigation of the complaint. (1) The Commission may permit one or more persons to make a complaint against a public utility or telecommunications undertaking, on behalf of a class of consumers or all consumers in relation to that public utility or that telecommunications undertaking. 35 <!-- page 37 --> 278 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 (2) | Where a complaint has been made under subsection (1) on behalf of a class of consumers, the Commission shall cause to be published at the expense of the complainant or complainants, in a prominent place at the headquarters of the Commission and in a newspaper having circulation in Guyana, a notice stating the particulars of the complaint and that the complainant or complainants have sought permission to make the complaint on behalf of the class of consumers specified in the notice or all consumers in relation to the public utility or telecommunications undertaking, the date, time and place of the hearing of the complaint, and that any person belonging in that class of consumers or any of such consumers, who is desirous of being heard in respect of the request, shall be entitled to appear on the date and at the time and place so specified to make representations supporting or opposing the request. (3) In the case of a complaint referred to in subsection (1), the Commission shall have power to join as complainant or respondent any person or persons belonging to the class of consumer or consumers on whose behalf the complaint has been permitted by the Commission to be made. (4) | Acomplaint referred to in subsection (1) shall not be withdrawn or settled except with the permission of the Commission. (5) Where the complainant or complainants have applied for permission to withdraw or settle a complaint referred to in subsection (1), the Commission shall cause a notice thereof to be published, at the cost of the complainant or complainants, in a prominent place at the headquarters of the Commission and in a newspaper having circulation in Guyana, stating the date, time and place of the hearing of the application, and - (a) shall hear any person belonging to the class of consumers or consumers on whose behalf the complaint has been made, and who appears on the date and at the time and place specified in the above mentioned notice and opposes the request; and (b) shall have power to allow any such consumer who So requests to continue to prosecute the complaint: 36 <!-- page 38 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 279 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Initiation of proceedings by Commission. Fixing of hearing. Hearings to be public. 56. 57. 58. Provided that where such consumer does not appear to prosecute the complaint and where the Commission considers the terms of the proposed withdrawal or settlement to be reasonable, the Commission shall grant the application for permission to withdraw or settle the complaint. (1) Where the Commission proposes to initiate proceedings under this Act or any other applicable law against any public utility or telecommunications undertaking, the Commission shall serve on the public utility or telecommunications undertaking a notice stating the reasons for the initiation of the proposed proceedings, with the particulars relating thereto, and the date, time and place of hearing. (2) A notice of the proposed proceedings shall be published at the headquarters of the Commission and in a newspaper having circulation in Guyana. (3) The public utility or the telecommunications undertaking and any other person having an interest in the subject matter of the proposed proceedings shall be entitled to appear at the hearing and be heard. (1) Where a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking satisfies a complaint against it within the time specified therefor or extended by the Commission, the complaint shall be dismissed by the Commission. (2) Where the public utility or telecommunications undertaking does not satisfy the complaint within the time specified therefor or extended by the Commission, and it appears to the Commission from a consideration of the complaint and answer thereto, or otherwise, that reasonable ground exists for investigating the complaint, the Commission shall fix a date, time and place for investigation and hearing of the matter. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where it appears to the Commission that a complaint is frivolous or unduly delayed, the Commission may reject the complaint. Subject to the confidentiality restrictions contained in section 83 (5), all hearings before the Commission shall be public and the parties to the proceedings shall be entitled to be heard in person or 37 <!-- page 39 --> 280 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Decision of Commission. Oaths and subpoena. Notice. Proof of agreement. 59. 60. 61. 62. by counsel. (1) After the conclusion of the hearing, the Commission shall make an order in writing which shall state the time within which the order is to be complied with. (2) The decision of a majority of the then membership of the Commission (without taking into account any vacancy) shall be the decision of the Commission, but any member not agreeing with the majority may record his views. (3) | The chairman or, in the absence or inability to act of the chairman, the person elected in accordance with section 8(2), shall preside at the meetings of the Commission; when so presiding, the chairman or the person elected as aforesaid, as the case may be, shall, where there is an equality of votes, have an original and a casting vote. (4) | Anorder under subsection (1) may deal also with any incidental matter that has arisen in the proceedings before the Commission. (5) Accertified copy of the order shall be served upon the public utility or the telecommunications undertaking, and in the case of a complaint brought by or on behalf of one or more consumers, upon each consumer and the relevant public utility or telecommunications undertaking, and notice thereof shall be given to the other parties to the proceedings. The Commission shall have power to subpoena witnesses, to administer oaths, to examine witnesses, to compel the production of such books, records, documents and other records as it may deem necessary or proper for any proceeding, investigation or hearing held by it, to inspect any premises, buildings, machinery, equipment or facility owned, occupied or used by any public utility or telecommunications undertaking, and to do all other necessary and proper acts in the lawful exercise of its powers or the performance of its duties. Notice of all hearings, investigations and proceedings before the Commission shall be given in such form and manner as the Commission may prescribe by rules. Where any dispute arises as to whether any agreement of the nature referred to in Parts V, VI, VII, or VIII has been entered into or as 38 <!-- page 40 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 281 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 to the terms of the agreement, a certificate under the signature of the Minister stating that any such agreement has been entered into and the terms of the agreement shall be admitted by the Commission as evidence of the facts stated therein. Records of 63. | The Commission shall keep a full and complete record of its proceedings. proceedings and of any investigation by it or on its behalf. PART XI FUNDING OF THE COMMISSION AND COSTS Annual assessment 64. upon public utilities and telecommunications undertakings. (2) (3) (1) The annual budget of the Commission, as approved by the National Assembly, shall be funded by an annual assessment by the Commission upon the public utilities and telecommunications undertakings under its jurisdiction. The annual assessment imposed pursuant to subsection (1) shall not exceed - (a) (b) (c) one percent of the gross revenue derived from services, or one hundred million dollars, whichever is less, in the case of any public utility referred to in section 4 (1) (a); one percent of the gross revenue derived from services, or one hundred million dollars, whichever is less, in the case of any operator or service provider; and in the case of any other public utility or telecommunications undertaking under the jurisdiction of the Commission, such amount as the Minister may by order, which shall be subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly, prescribe. The Commission shall, on the basis of the budget that it shall submit to the Ministry of Finance pursuant to section 20 and no later than forty-five days before the beginning of the financial year to which such budget relates, determine and notify each public utility and telecommunications undertaking under its jurisdiction, and that is subject to an annual assessment pursuant to subsection (2), of the annual assessment upon such public utility and telecommunications undertaking and of the annual assessment upon each other public utility and 39 <!-- page 41 --> 282 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 No. of 2016 Costs of investigation or proceeding. 65. (4) (5) (6) telecommunications undertaking under the Commission's jurisdiction. A public utility and a telecommunications undertaking shall pay over to the Commission the annual assessment made pursuant to this section in two equal installments on the fifteenth day of January and on the fifteenth day of July in each year, and the first installment shall be paid irrespective of the date on which the National Assembly approves the national budget, save that such payment shall be adjusted if necessary based on the amount of the first installment approved by the National Assembly. On or before the thirty-first day of March in each year, the Commission shall prepare and make available to each public utility and telecommunications undertaking, to the public, and to the Minister an accounting of the funding received pursuant to this section and the use or other disposition of such funding. For purposes of this section- "gross revenue derived from services"- (a) means in relation to a public utility the gross revenue derived in the most recently-ended financial year; and (b) in relation to a telecommunications undertaking, has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act. (1) | To the extent not defrayed from the resources of the Commission obtained pursuant to Part IV and section 64, the expenses incurred by the Commission, and determined and assessed by it, in connection with any investigation or proceeding under this Act involving any public utility or telecommunications undertaking, and all expenses of any litigation (including appeals) arising from any such investigation, or any valuation, revaluation or proceedings, or from any order or action of the Commission, shall be borne by the public utility or telecommunications undertaking investigated or proceeded against, and upon the Commission's presentation of itemized statements supported by receipts, where such receipts are issued, shall be paid by the public utility or telecommunications undertaking to the Commission within such time as may be specified by the Commission: 40 <!-- page 42 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 283 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Provided that the amount so determined and assessed in any one year by the Commission shall not exceed - (a) in respect of any proceedings relating to rate - (i) one-half of one percent, or fifty million dollars, whichever is less, in the case of any public utility referred to in section 4 (1) (a); (ii) one-half of one percent, or fifty million dollars, whichever is less, in the case of any operator or service provider; (iii) in the case of any other public utility or telecommunications undertaking under the jurisdiction of the Commission, such amount as the Minister may by order, which shall be subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly, prescribe; (b) in respect of all other investigations - (i) one-tenth of one percent, or fifteen million dollars, whichever is less, in the case of any public utility referred to in section 4 (1) (a); (ii) one-tenth of one percent, or fifteen million dollars, whichever is less, in the case of any operator or service provider; (iii) in the case of any other public utility or telecommunications undertaking under the jurisdiction of the Commission, such amount as the Minister may by order, which shall be subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly, prescribe, of its gross revenues derived from services or such other sum as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with any other written law, a licence held by the public utility or telecommunications undertaking or an agreement between the Government and the public utility or telecommunications undertaking, or between the Government and an investor, in relation to a privatisation or capitalisation of the public utility or telecommunications undertaking. 41 <!-- page 43 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 5™ AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Execution of order. 66. Compliance with 67. order in proceedings relating to rate. Enforcement of 68. order by taking over management of business of public utility. (2) The amount determined and assessed to a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking and paid by it under subsection (1), and one-half of the amount determined and assessed to a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking and paid by it under section 64, shall be taken into account in determining its operating costs for the purposes of this Act. (3) The costs of, and incidental to, any proceedings before the Commission incurred by the parties thereto shall be in the discretion of the Commission and the Commission may make an appropriate order in respect thereof while deciding the matter arising in the proceedings. (4) To the extent not defrayed from the resources of the Commission obtained pursuant to this section and sections 20 (3) and 64, the annual budget of the Commission, as approved by the National Assembly, shall be funded by sums provided to the Commission by or under an annual appropriation by the National Assembly. PART XII ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS (1) On the application ofthe Commission or any party to any proceedings before the Commission and the production of a certified copy of the order of the Commission in such proceedings, the High Court shall register and execute the order as if it were an order made by it. (2) This section is without prejudice to any other provision of this Part. A public utility to which an order relating to rate applies shall make such changes in the tariffs filed by it as may be necessary to make the same conform to the order and thereafter no change shall be made in the tariffs so filed except in accordance with the provisions of this Act. (1) Except as otherwise provided in the terms of a licence granted to a public utility or any written law, where an order made by the Commission in respect of a public utility (not being an order fixing rate or for the payment of any sum of money) has not in any material particular and without lawful excuse, been complied with within a reasonable time to be stated therein for compliance, the 42 <!-- page 44 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 285 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Commission may take such steps and employ such persons as may be necessary for the enforcement of such order, and for that purpose may — (a) forcibly or otherwise enter upon, seize and take possession of the whole or any part of the movable or immovable property of the public utility, together with the books, documents and offices of the public utility; and (b) until the order has been enforced, assume and take over the management of the business of the public utility for and in the interests of the owner or owners of the public utility, its creditors and the consumers. (2) During the period when the Commission manages the business of a public utility under subsection (1), the Commission may exercise all or any of the powers, duties and rights of the owner or owners or directors of the public utility, and of its officers, in all respects, including the employment and dismissal of officers and employees of the public utility: Provided that the Commission shall not remain in possession of the property or manage the business of the public utility or any part thereof for a period in excess of six months unless within that period it proceeds against the public utility under section 69. (3) Upon the Commission so taking possession of the property and business of any public utility, every officer and employee of the public utility shall obey the orders of the Commission and of any person placed by the Commission in authority in the management of any department or the business of the public utility. (4) The Commission, upon taking possession of the property and taking over the management of the business of a public utility, may determine, receive and pay out all moneys due to or owing by the public utility and give cheques, acquittances and receipts for moneys to the same extent and with like effect as the proper officers of the public utility could do if possession of the property had not been taken or management of the business had not been 43 <!-- page 45 --> 286 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Dissolution of 69. public utility in default. Cap.89:01 Disobedience of 70. order of Commission. Failure of public 71; utility or telecommunications (5) (2) (3) taken over. The costs incurred by the Commission for any purpose referred to in this section shall be in the discretion of the Commission, and the Commission may order by whom and in what amount or proportion such costs, as determined and assessed by the Commission, shall be paid to the Commission. (1) Where a public utility, which is a company, has failed or refused in respect of any material particular and without lawful excuse, to comply with an order made by the Commission within a reasonable time to be stated therein for compliance and the Commission is of the opinion that no effectual means exist for compelling the public utility to comply with the order, the Commission shall transmit to the Minister a certificate signed by the chairman setting forth the nature of the order and the default of the public utility in respect thereof, and such certificate shall be published in the Gazette and a newspaper having circulation in Guyana. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of a licence granted to a public utility or any written law, upon publication of the certificate, the Commission may apply to the High Court to have the public utility wound up and the High Court shall deal with the application as if, for the purposes of the Companies Act, failure or refusal by a company to comply with an order made by the Commission were a ground for winding up the company by the High Court. In this section "company" has the same meaning as in the Companies Act. PART XIII OFFENCES AND PENALTIES Every public utility and telecommunications undertaking which in respect of any material particular without lawful excuse fails or refuses to obey an order of the Commission shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not less than two million dollars nor more than three million dollars. Every public utility and telecommunications undertaking which in respect of any material particular and without lawful excuse fails or refuses — 44 <!-- page 46 --> Willful default by = 73. employee, etc. of public utility or telecommunications undertaking in furnishing information. Obstruction of, or 74. interference with members, officers, etc. of Commission in discharge of duties. dollars nor more than three million dollars. Where the Commission at any time, by notice served on any public utility or telecommunications undertaking, directs it to furnish to the Commission any return or information, which the public utility or telecommunications undertaking may be required to furnish, and the public utility or telecommunications undertaking willfully refuses or fails to furnish the return or information to the best of its knowledge, or means of knowledge, in the manner directed by the Commission at or within the time stated in the notice, the public utility or telecommunications undertaking shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not less than one million dollars nor more than two million dollars. Every person, who obstructs or interferes with any member, officer or other person employed by the Commission in the exercise of the rights conferred or duties imposed by or under this Act, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not less than two million dollars nor more than three million dollars. 45 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SupPpLEMENT] — A 5™ AUGUST, 2016 287 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 undertaking to furnish information. (a) to prepare and furnish to the Commission within the time, in the manner and form, and with particulars and verifications, specified by or under this Act, any return or information - (i) required to be furnished by or under this Act; or (ii) directed to be furnished by the Commission for the purpose of the exercise or discharge of any of its functions; or (b) to answer any reasonable question relevant to any matter which is the subject of any proceedings before the Commission or investigation by the Commission, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not less than two million dollars nor more than three million dollars. Making or 72. Every public utility or telecommunications undertaking which furnishing false wilfully makes any return or furnishes any information to the return or Commission, which is false in any material particular, shall be information. liable on summary conviction, to a fine not less than two million <!-- page 47 --> 288 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Penalty for other 75. (1) Every public utility or telecommunications offences. undertaking, or officer, employee or agent of a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking, guilty of the contravention of any provision of this Act (including rules or regulations made thereunder) for which no penalty has been prescribed by any other provision of this Act, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not less than two million dollars nor more than three million dollars. (2) — To the extent that any other applicable law or regulations issued thereunder varies or supplements a penalty provided for in this Part, the penalty provided in such law or regulations shall apply, but the provisions of this Part that are not so varied or supplemented shall continue to apply as provided herein. Penalty inthe case 76. For the purposes of this Act, where an offence continues after there of continuing has been a conviction, it shall be deemed to be a separate and offence. distinct offence committed each day on which the offence continues. PART XIV REVIEW AND APPEAL Suspension or 77. The Commission may suspend, review, vary or rescind any review by decision or order made by it and, where under this Act a hearing is Commission of its required before any decision or order is made, such decision or own decision or order shall not be suspended, varied or rescinded without giving order. the parties affected by the decision or order a reasonable opportunity of being heard. Appeal and other 78. (1) An appeal shall lie to the Court of Appeal from any proceedings. final, decision or order of the Commission. (2) The party proposing to appeal shall give to the Commission and to the party or parties in whose favour the decision or order has been given, a notice of appeal within fourteen days of the decision or order of the Commission. (3) The appellant, the Commission and the party or parties in whose favour the decision or order of the Commission was given shall be entitled to be heard by counsel upon the hearing of the appeal. (4) The Chancellor may appoint not more than two persons (hereinafter in this section referred to as assessors) who, in his opinion, are qualified by reason of their knowledge and 46 <!-- page 48 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 289 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Stay of proceedings 79. pending appeal. Determination of 80. question by Court of Appeal. Case stated upon 81. question of law. (5) (6) (7) experience in respect of matters relevant to the appeal, to assist the Court of Appeal, at the hearing of the appeal, in determining any question of fact arising in the appeal. The assessors shall be paid such allowances as may be determined by rules of court or, in the absence of rules of court in regard to this matter, as may be determined by the Chancellor. All costs incidental to the hearing of the appeal (including the fees payable to the assessors) shall be at the discretion of the Court of Appeal. Where in respect of proceedings before the Commission a party makes an application to the High Court for an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari or for a declaration or any other such application, the High Court shall, notwithstanding anything in any other written law, as expeditiously as possible and in any case no later than seventy days of the commencement of the hearing of the application, give its decision thereon; and the court shall determine such procedure as would facilitate the rendering of the decision within the stipulated time so as not to frustrate the work of the Commission. No appeal shall of itself stay or suspend the operation of any decision or order of the Commission against which the appeal has been filed, but the Court of Appeal may stay or suspend, in whole or in part, the operation of the decision or order of the Commission during the pendency of the appeal, upon such terms and conditions (including the furnishing of security) as that Court may think fit. On the hearing of the appeal and the determination of the question involved in the appeal, a certified copy of the decision of the Court of Appeal shall be forwarded to the Commission and thereupon the Commission shall make an order in accordance with that decision. (2) (1) The Commission may, upon the application of any party to any proceedings before it, or on its own motion, state a case in writing for the opinion of the Court of Appeal upon any question which, in the opinion of the Commission, is a question of law arising in the proceedings. The Court of Appeal shall hear and determine the question of law stated for its opinion by the Commission and shall remit the matter to the Commission with the opinion of the 47 <!-- page 49 --> 290 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Court of Appeal thereon, which opinion shall be binding on the Commission and all the parties to the proceedings. PART XV MISCELLANEOUS Duty of public 82. It shall be the duty of every public utility and telecommunications utility and undertaking to co-operate with the Commission and its officers, telecommunications employees and agents in the performance of their functions and for undertaking to co- that purpose to comply with all lawful requests made, or directions operate with or instructions given, by the Commission or its officers, employees Commission. or agents. Duty of public 83. (1) The Commission may by order require a public utility and utility or a telecommunications undertaking to furnish telecommunications periodically at such intervals as may be specified by the undertaking to Commission, and at such other times as the Commission furnish information may require, a detailed report of finances and operations in and returns. such form and containing such particulars and verified in such manner as the Commission may specify, including accounts, reports or other information which show in itemized detail - (a) depreciation; (b) salaries and wages; (c) legal expenses; (d) taxes and rentals; (e) the quantity and value of material used; (f) receipts from residuals, by-products, services or other sales; (g) total and net cost; (h) gross and net profits; (i) dividends and interests; G) surplus or reserve; (k) prices paid by consumers; 69) any other information whether or not similar to the 48 <!-- page 50 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 291 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 Ascertainment of value of property of public utility. 84, (2) (3) (4) (5) information under paragraphs (a) to (k), and the public utility or the telecommunications undertaking shall comply with the request. Upon reasonable notice by the Commission, every public utility and telecommunications undertaking shall furnish to the Commission all information required by it and shall make specific and complete answers to all questions submitted by the Commission. All the records, including records stored by means of electronic equipment, relating to the operations and business of a public utility and a telecommunications undertaking shall be kept at its principal place of business, or other places of business, in Guyana. Whenever required by the Commission and upon reasonable notice to the public utility or the telecommunications undertaking, a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking shall deliver to the Commission all contracts, reports of engineers, documents, books, accounts and other records in the possession or control of the public utility or the telecommunications undertaking and in any way relating to its property or service or affecting its business, or copies of the same verified in such manner as the Commission may specify. All information and documents provided to the Commission under this Act shall be publicly available: Provided that the Commission shall take all due and reasonable care to protect and shall not publish or otherwise make publicly available the trade secrets of the public utility or the telecommunications undertaking, third party confidential information, or any other information that may aid a competitor or potential competitor of the public utility or the telecommunications undertaking. (1) The Commission may, for the purposes of carrying out its functions authorised under this Act and subject to section 21 (2), order the ascertainment by appraisal of the value of the property of any public utility and in that connection may enquire into every fact which, in its judgement, has any bearing on that value, including the amount of money actually and reasonably expended in that undertaking in order to provide service reasonably 49 <!-- page 51 --> 292 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Annual report. Evidence of documents. Power of Commission to 85. 86. 87. adequate to the requirements of the public served by the public utility. (2) All expenses in connection with any appraisal ordered by the Commission, including all expenses incurred in connection therewith by the public utility whose property is the subject of the appraisal, may, where the Commission so directs, be charged to the capital account and added to the rate base of the public utility. (1) |The Commission shall, on or before the thirty-first day of March in each calendar year, make to the Minister a report in respect of the preceding calendar year stating briefly - (a) all applications and complaints to the Commission under this Act and any other applicable law, and summaries of the findings of the Commission thereon; (b) summaries of the findings of the Commission in regard to any matter in respect of which the Commission has acted on its own motion; (c) such other matters as may appear to the Commission to be of public interest in connection with public utilities and telecommunications undertakings; (d) an accounting of the funds received by the Commission and the Commission's use or other disposition of such funds, in such form and in such detail as the Minister may prescribe; and (e) such other matters as the Minister may prescribe by regulations. (2) A copy of every report under subsection (1) shall be laid before the National Assembly by the Minister. A copy of any order or other document in the custody of the Secretary of the Commission, certified by the Secretary to be a true copy and sealed with the seal of the Commission, shall be evidence of the order or other document. Subject to any written law, any licence or any agreement between the Government and a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking, or between the Government and an investor, in 50 <!-- page 52 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 293 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 make rules. Power of the 88. Minister to make regulations. Repeal. 89. Cap. 57:01 relation to the privatisation or capitalisation of the public utility, the Commission may make rules in respect of all or any of the following matters - (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) i) the procedures of the Commission; the rates that may be demanded and received by public utilities or telecommunications undertakings from consumers and any matter to be taken into account in fixing the rate for any service provided by a public utility or a telecommunications undertaking; the form and manner of keeping and rendering books, accounts and other records by public utilities and telecommunications undertakings and the matters that the annual report of a public utility and a telecommunications undertaking should specify; the form of application by a consumer for receipt of interest on cash deposit; the form of any complaint under this Act; the form and manner of giving any notice by the Commission; the time, form and manner of furnishing to the Commission any return or information by a public utility, the particulars to be contained in it and the verification thereof; the fees payable in respect of matters within the jurisdiction of the Commission; the particulars that a development and expansion programme submitted by a public utility for the approval of the Commission should contain; any other matter that is required to be, or may be, prescribed by the Commission by rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act and any other applicable written law. The Minister may make such regulations as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act. The Public Utilities Commission Act is hereby repealed. 51 [No. 19 <!-- page 53 --> 294 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LecaL Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 No. 19] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2016 Transitional provisions. Cap. 57:01 Cap. 57:01 Cap. 57:01 Cap. 57:01 Cap. 57:01 90. (1) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Public Utilities Commission Act by section 89, the Public Utilities Commission constituted under section 5 of the said Act shall, for such time as the Minister deems necessary, continue to function as such on and after the coming into operation of this Act, as though the chairman and other members were appointed under section 5 of this Act, and shall have and discharge all the powers vested in it under this Act, and in respect of all pending - (a) matters engaging the attention of the Commission; (b) complaints before the Commission; (c) appeals by or against the Commission; (d) —_ proceedings in the Court of Appeal or the High Court in which the Commission is a party, on the day immediately preceding the coming into operation of this Act, shall have and discharge all the powers vested in it under the Public Utilities Commission Act, and that Act shall stand unrepealed to the extent necessary to facilitate the discharge of the functions of the Commission in respect of the aforesaid matters, complaints, appeals and proceedings. (2) The assets and liabilities of the Commission constituted under the Public Utilities Commission Act shall be transferred, with effect from the coming into operation of this Act, to the Commission constituted under this Act. (3) All contracts, deeds, bonds, overdrafts, guarantees, agreements or other instruments or other documents, which were subsisting immediately before the coming into operation of this Act, and relating to the assets and liabilities of the Public Utilities Commission constituted under the Public Utilities Commission Act, shall be of full force and effect against or in favour of the Public Utilities Commission constituted under this Act and be enforceable as fully and effectually as if, instead of the Public Utilities Commission constituted under the Public Utilities Commission Act, the Public Utilities Commission constituted under this Act had been named therein or had been a party thereto. 52 <!-- page 54 --> THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [Lecat Supplement] — A 57 AUGUST, 2016 295 A.D. 2016] THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ACT 2016 [No. 19 (4) All actions or other proceedings commenced before the coming into operation of this Act, for the enforcement of any right relating to any asset or liability which is transferred by this Act to the Public Utilities Commission constituted under this Act, and to which the Public Utilities Commission constituted under the Public Utilities Commission Act is a party, may be continued by or against the Public Utilities Commission constituted under this Act, and such actions or other proceedings may be amended accordingly. Cap. 57:01 (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other written law or agreement, the appointments of all the officers and employees employed by the Public Utilities Commission constituted under the Public Utilities Cap. 57:01 Commission Act immediately before the coming into operation of this Act, shall be continued in the employment of the Public Utilities Commission constituted under this Act. (6) Any order made by the Minister pursuant to section 4 of the Public Utilities Commission Act shall be continued, and shall have full force and effect, as if made under this Act. Cap.57:01 Passed by the National Assembly on the 18" July, 2016. 4. £. Var: Clerk of the National Assembly. (BILL No. 16/2016) 53