The legislation listed below is of particular resource to the gas energy industry. Electronic versions are available for browsing on the State Law Publisher web site.

This Act:

• provides for the regulation of third party access to gas pipeline systems;
• establishes a board and provides for an official to arbitrate access disputes and other disputes in the gas supply industry; and
• consequentially amends various Acts.

Energy Operators (Powers) Act 1979

This Act gives powers to Western Power Corporation and other energy operators. Section 55(1)(b) requires applications for the authorisation of new gas undertakings and was designed to ensure that financially viable, reliable and safe gas undertakings are established in Western Australia.

[Section 55(1)(b) in particular]

These regulations are made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and define the prescribed persons required to comply with the relevant portions of the retail market rules made as part of any approved retail market scheme.  The prescribed persons include self-contracting users, shippers, and swing service providers.

These regulations are made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and specify how gas contracts for residential and small business customers must be written.  The regulations also specify certain provisions designed to protect customers, and which must be included in all contracts for residential and small business customers.

These regulations are made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and:

• determine the responsibilities of the governing body of gas industry ombudsman schemes;
• determine the jurisdiction of gas industry ombudsman schemes;
• prescribe the functions and powers of a gas industry ombudsmen; and
• enforce compliance with gas industry ombudsman schemes.

Any company that sells gas to small use customers must be a member of an approved gas industry ombudsman scheme.

The Code of Conduct is made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and the Energy Legislation Amendment Act 2003, and specifies what gas companies can and cannot do when they market gas to residential and small business customers. All gas companies that market gas to residential and small business customers will be required to comply with the Gas Marketing Code of Conduct.

These regulations are made under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 and set out the tariff caps that apply to the Mid-West and South-West Gas Distribution System (stretching from Geraldton in the north to Busselton in the south, including the Perth metropolitan area), Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and Albany.

Energy Coordination (Last Resort Supply) Regulations 2005

In conjunction with the Energy Coordination (Consumer Contracts) Regulations 2004, the Energy Coordination (Last Resort Supply) Regulations 2005 implement supplier of last resort (SOLR) arrangements.  SOLR arrangements are the means to ensure that small use customers continue to receive gas supply if a retailer in the competitive gas market is unable to supply gas for some unforeseen reason.