The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued its draft advice and draft rules for accreditation as part of the water infrastructure charge rules.
The Minister for Climate Change and Water wrote to the ACCC in September 2009 requesting further advice, including draft rules, in relation to the accreditation of state agencies by the ACCC under the water infrastructure charge rules. This advice is to be provided to the minister by February 2010.
The release of this draft advice and draft rules represents the main phase of consultation by the ACCC on accreditation provisions under the water infrastructure charge rules.
The ACCC invites submissions on the drafts as well as any other information that could assist and inform the minister. Interested parties are encouraged to provide their submission to the ACCC by 5 pm on Friday 18 December 2009.
Details on how to make a submission can be found in the draft advice, which is available from the ACCC website Water charge (infrastructure) rules: accreditation arrangements.
If you would like to receive updates on developments in this area, please send your email contact details to: water@accc.gov.au.
The Water Act 2007, which came into effect on 3 March 2008, creates new functions for the ACCC. These functions include the provision of advice on the water charge rules and water market rules to the minister and for the ACCC to monitor compliance with and enforcement of these rules. The Water Act 2007 also provides for the ACCC to advise the Murray Darling Basin Authority on water trading rules.
The ACCC provided its final advice and draft water infrastructure charge rules to the minister on 26 June 2009.