The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is preparing to evaluate the competitive nature and public benefits to be derived from the rules governing the operation of the proposed national market for electricity.
The Commission has published a paper setting out the framework and issues it will need to assess, titled Issues Paper on the National Electricity Market Code of Conduct.
ACCC Deputy Chairman, Mr Allan Asher, said the paper is designed to promote discussion about the competition and access issues that may arise in the new market. Interested parties are invited to comment and make submissions to the ACCC on the overall market arrangements, the general public benefit of the proposed arrangements as well as any of their anti-competitive effects. They are also invited to comment on the proposed access regime in terms of the requirements of the Trade Practices Act.
The National Grid Management Council is expected to lodge an application with the ACCC in May seeking authorisation of arrangements for the operation of the national electricity market. It will also be submitting undertakings for access to both the transmission and distribution infrastructure.
These market arrangements and access undertakings will take the form of an industry code of conduct.
The code will cover all aspects of the national market, including market operation rules, system security, network connection, network pricing, metering, dispute resolution and monitoring of compliance and reporting. It also will provide transitional arrangements for jurisdictions to move to a fully competitive national market.
This issues paper is intended to be read in conjunction with the draft code of conduct and specifically the NGMC's National Electricity Code Outline and Rationale. A brief summary of the code is attached.
The issues paper is the first step in the ACCC's process of public consultation, prior to fulfilling its statutory obligations. It has to determine whether the code should be authorised and the access undertakings accepted.
The issues paper is available from all ACCC offices. Written submissions should be sent to the ACCC by 24 April 1996.
The Commission has published a paper setting out the framework and issues it will need to assess, titled Issues Paper on the National Electricity Market Code of Conduct.
ACCC Deputy Chairman, Mr Allan Asher, said the paper is designed to promote discussion about the competition and access issues that may arise in the new market. Interested parties are invited to comment and make submissions to the ACCC on the overall market arrangements, the general public benefit of the proposed arrangements as well as any of their anti-competitive effects. They are also invited to comment on the proposed access regime in terms of the requirements of the Trade Practices Act.
The National Grid Management Council is expected to lodge an application with the ACCC in May seeking authorisation of arrangements for the operation of the national electricity market. It will also be submitting undertakings for access to both the transmission and distribution infrastructure.
These market arrangements and access undertakings will take the form of an industry code of conduct.
The code will cover all aspects of the national market, including market operation rules, system security, network connection, network pricing, metering, dispute resolution and monitoring of compliance and reporting. It also will provide transitional arrangements for jurisdictions to move to a fully competitive national market.
This issues paper is intended to be read in conjunction with the draft code of conduct and specifically the NGMC's National Electricity Code Outline and Rationale. A brief summary of the code is attached.
The issues paper is the first step in the ACCC's process of public consultation, prior to fulfilling its statutory obligations. It has to determine whether the code should be authorised and the access undertakings accepted.
The issues paper is available from all ACCC offices. Written submissions should be sent to the ACCC by 24 April 1996.