1.1 This Code is an industry code
(a) This Code, the Victorian LPG Retail Code, has been established by industry with the support of the Victorian Government. LPG Retailers may volunteer to comply with this Code.
(b) By volunteering, among other things an LPG Retailer agrees to participate in EWOV's dispute resolution scheme and to be bound by any decision made by EWOV about a Customer's complaint.
(c) To avoid doubt, EWOV's jurisdiction does not extend to complaints relating to the setting of prices or determining price structures
1.2 Objectives of this Code
The objectives of this Code are to protect the interests of all domestic Customers by prescribing minimum standard service levels that LPG Retailers should meet when selling them LPG.
1.3 Minimum standards for the sale of LPG
LPG Retailers who agree to be bound by this Code must include terms in their Contracts with Customers, and must ensure that their Agents include terms in their Contracts with Customers, that are consistent with the minimum standards for the sale of LPG reflected in Parts 2 to 8 (inclusive) of this Code. They must also observe those minimum standards in their dealings with Customers generally, and must ensure their Agents do likewise.
1.4 Different kinds of sales of LPG
This Code deals with 3 main kinds of sales of LPG, as follows. The rights and obligations of an LPG Retailer and of a Customer differ depending on what kind of sale they enter into:
(a) an Advanced Payment Sale, where the Customer pays for the LPG before the time the LPG is delivered
(b) a Payment on Delivery Sale, where the Customer pays for the LPG at the time the LPG is delivered and
(c) a Sale on Account, where the Customer pays for the LPG after the time the LPG is delivered.
1.5 Where this Code applies and does not apply
This Code only applies to sales where LPG is delivered to a domestic Customer's site. It does not apply to the sale of LPG to business customers nor does it apply to point of sale deliveries (e.g., where at its own premises an LPG Retailer fills a cylinder used by a person at the person's site or for a barbeque or for camping).
1.6 Commencement
This Code commences to apply, and LPG Retailers may volunteer to comply with this Code, with effect on and from 1 July 2005.
1.7 Transitional arrangements for pre-Code Contracts
This Code only applies to Contracts that an LPG Retailer enters into with a Customer after the LPG Retailer has volunteered to comply with this Code. However, even for Contracts entered into before then, an LPG Retailer must comply with the complaints and dispute resolution provisions in clause 21 of this Code. This Code also applies if such a Contract is renewed, or the terms of it are varied, after the LPG Retailer has volunteered to comply with this Code.