Epic Energy given extension to provide revised access arrangement for MAPS

The Australian Competition and Consumer has granted Epic Energy's request for an extension to submit its revised access arrangement for the Moomba to Adelaide Pipeline System (MAPS). The revised access arrangement is now due on 18 January 2002.

The ACCC's Final Decision on Epic Energy's proposed access arrangement did not approve Epic Energy's proposal and set out the amendments that Epic Energy would need to make before the ACCC would approved the access arrangement. In particular, the Final Decision required Epic Energy to reduce the tariffs that it was proposing for the pipeline.

The ACCC had initially allowed Epic Energy 11 weeks to submit a revised access arrangement. Epic Energy indicated that it could not provide a revised access arrangement within the required time frame. The Gas Code specifies that service providers must be allowed a minimum of two weeks to submit a revised access arrangement.

The ACCC is mindful of the interests of users of the pipeline and is concerned that the approval process should not be delayed further.