The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued its Access Arrangement Process Guideline.
The guideline has been prepared to advise service providers and other interested parties on ACCC and Australian Energy Regulator processes to meet the access arrangement approval requirements of the Gas Code including arrangements to conclude approvals within the specified six month time period.
The ACCC currently regulates natural gas transmission pipelines under the Gas Code. However, governments have agreed that this function will be undertaken by the AER, along with regulation of natural gas distribution pipelines. In developing this guideline, the ACCC has been assisted by advice from the AER.
"While there are plans for adjusting the gas access law and the Gas Code, it will be some time before these processes are complete", AER Chairman and an associate ACCC Commissioner, Mr Steve Edwell, said. "In the interim, this guideline will assist service providers and other interested parties to understand the current assessment process which may result in a reduction of assessment timeframes".
The guideline is available on the AER website or by contacting the Access Branch Administrative Officer on 02 6243 1233.