THE ACT Law Society is calling on the ACT government to amend the Certificate of Occupancy and Use after a number of new units have been sold in Canberra without electricity meters. 

The president of the ACT Law Society, Sarah Avery, today (June 14) expressed dismay that new units are continuing to be sold in the ACT without electricity meters.

“The Society believes that buyers should be provided with a unit that is capable and fit for occupation, including being connected to and able to use electricity,” says Ms Avery.

“The Society wrote to the government last year when this matter first arose and suggested that the issue could be resolved through amendment to the Certificate of Occupancy and Use issued by the Environment and Planning Directorate. The Society believes that the Certificate should not be supplied unless and until there is an electricity meter in place for each unit.

“It is not acceptable that buyers of brand new units purchased off-the-plan discover very late in the process that electricity meters have not been installed. As a result, buyers purchasing such units have experienced unnecessary confusion, distress, and added expense.”