The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued its draft decision on the access arrangement proposed by Central Ranges Pipeline Pty Ltd for its planned transmission pipeline in the Central Ranges of NSW. The pipeline will initially extend from Dubbo to Tamworth in 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 draft decision, the ACCC has been assisted by advice from the AER.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal also issued its draft decision on the 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.
"In general, the proposed transmission access arrangement incorporates the outcomes of the tender and contains the 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 proposed distribution access arrangement.
"However, there are some areas where they fail to do this and the ACCC and IPART both require Central Ranges Pipeline to make a number of amendments", Mr Edwell said.
"The ACCC and IPART have been in consultation with Central Ranges Pipeline throughout the assessment of its proposals and are pleased that it has indicated its agreement with the amendments required by each", Mr Cox said.
The ACCC and IPART both invite submissions from interested parties on the draft decisions by 18 November 2005.
The ACCC's decision document on the transmission pipeline is available on the website or by contacting the Access Branch Administrative Officer on 02 6243 1233. IPART's decision on the distribution network is available from its website www.ipart.nsw.gov.au.