The Office of Energy administers the Gas Pipelines Access (Western Australia) Act 1998 that implemented the National Third Party Access Code for Natural Gas Pipeline Systems (the Code). As well as implementing amendments to the Gas Pipeline Access Law agreed at a national level, the Office monitors the regulatory decision-making of the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) related to gas pipeline access. Details of these decisions are available at the ERA website.
Submissions are prepared to represent State policies or interests and the interests of energy consumers at large.
Aside from monitoring and making representations on regulatory filings, the Office advises the Minister on applications for revocations of pipeline coverage under the Code and recommendations made by the National Competition Council (NCC) to the Minister.
Review of the Gas Access Regime
The Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) has commmitted to the development of a consistent national framework for both gas and electricity, which will be implemented through the National Gas Law.
Western Australia has agreed to participate in the portion of the National Gas Law dealing with access to natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The Office of Energy and in liaison with other relevant agencies, actively represents Western Australia interests in the development of the infrastructure access aspects of a National Gas Law and National Gas Rules, which are expected to come into effect in July 2008 (potentially later in Western Australia).
