The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today received an application to accept an access code for the proposed National Electricity Market (NEM). The application was lodged by the National Electricity Code Administrator (NECA) and is largely identical to the draft application NECA submitted in November 1996. The delay in receiving the formal application for the NEM access code was due to legislative changes required to establish assessment guidelines and to streamline public consultation processes.
ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said that the network access arrangements are a central part of the reforms to introduce competition into the electricity sector, and have the potential to bring significant benefits to all consumers. "The ACCC's job is now to examine the NEM access code and to determine whether the code is in the interests of network operators, network users and the Australian community more generally. The ACCC therefore invites interested parties to comment and make submissions on the access code."
The access code describes the procedures and requirements for generators and electricity users to gain access to the electricity transmission and distribution networks. The access code consists of significant parts of the National Electricity Code, including system security, network connection, network pricing, metering, dispute resolution, enforcement and provides for transitional arrangements for participating jurisdictions to adjust to the requirements of the NEM Code.
The ACCC's assessment of the NEM access code is in addition to our continuing assessment of the application to authorise the National Electricity Code and the transitional arrangements in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. While the Commission's work on the electricity access and authorisation applications are complementary, the processes, criteria and decisions are quite separate.
Copies of the code can be obtained from ACCC offices or electronically from http://www.accc.gov.au/. Responses to the document should be with the ACCC by 28 May 1997.
Further Information Mr Allan Asher, Deputy Chairman (06) 264 2838 Ms Lin Enright, Director, Public Relations, (06) 264 2808 or (018) 632 526
