The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued its final decision to approve a revised access arrangement submitted by Central Ranges Pipeline Pty Ltd for its transmission pipeline in the Central Ranges region of NSW.
The ACCC is currently the regulator of the Central Ranges transmission pipeline under the national gas code. However it is intended that this function will pass to the Australian Energy Regulator. In making this decision, the ACCC has been assisted by advice from the AER.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal also today issued its final decision to approve a revised access arrangement for the Central Ranges Pipeline distribution network, which will take gas from the transmission pipeline to end customers.
The ACCC and IPART had earlier approved a competitive tender process for the pipeline which established key provisions, including the reference tariffs that may be charged until 2019, and both released draft decisions on the proposed access arrangements in October of this year.
Central Ranges Pipeline submitted the revised access arrangements in November 2005 responding to the proposed amendments set out in the draft decisions.
"The revised access arrangement for the transmission pipeline incorporates the amendments outlined in the ACCC's draft decision and now contains the outcomes of the tender and other elements required by the gas code", Mr Steve Edwell, Chairman of the Australian Energy Regulator (and an ACCC associate Commissioner), said.
Mr James Cox, IPART Chief Executive Officer and Full-time Member, said that this is also true for the distribution access arrangement.
"These decisions are significant because this is the first time a competitive tender has determined elements of an access arrangement approved under the national gas code", Mr Cox said.
"The ACCC and IPART have taken less than four months to complete their assessments of the access arrangements. This outcome has been achieved with the cooperation of Central Ranges Pipeline Pty Ltd, through pre-lodgement consultation and discussion of the relevant issues during the assessment period. As a result, Central Ranges Pipeline was able to submit all information and supporting documentation to the ACCC and IPART in a timely manner", Mr Edwell said.
The ACCC's decision documents on the transmission pipeline are available on the website of the Australian Energy Regulator: www.aer.gov.au or by contacting the Access Branch Administrative Officer on 02 6243 1233. IPART's decisions on the distribution network are available from its website www.ipart.nsw.gov.au.