The Office of Energy administers the Electricity Industry Act 2004 under which the Electricity Networks Access Code 2004 (the "Access Code") operates.  Seven amendments have been made to the Code, originally Gazetted on 30 November 2004, as follows:

• WAGG (West Australian Government Gazette), No 207, 8 November 2005, Operational 8 November 2005;
• WAGG, No 59, 31 March 2006, Operational 1 April 2006;
• WAGG, No 152, 1 September 2006, Operational 1 September 2006;
• WAGG, No 206, 8 December 2006, Operational 8 December 2006;
• WAGG No 137, 29 June 2007, Operational 29 June 2007;
• WAGG No 176, 29 August 2007, Operational 29 August 2007; and
• WAGG No 13, 25 January 2008, Operational 25 January 2008.

The Office of Energy has prepared an unofficial consolidated version of the Code icluding the above amendments.  The consolidated version of the Access Code is available via the link below:

Electricity Networks Access Code 2004 (includes latest amendments of 25 January 2008)

Access Code Amendments Consultation

The Office is conducting a consultation process on the urgent amendments gazetted on 29 June 2007, 29 August 2009 and 25 January 2008 and further proposed amendments. Details of this consultation can be found on the Access Code Amendments Consultation page>>.

About the Access Code

The objective of this Code is to promote "the economically efficient: 

• investment in; and
• operation of and use of,

networks and services of networks in Western Australia in order to promote competition in markets upstream and downstream of the networks."

 The Office:

• monitors the regulatory decision-making of the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) related to electricity network access; and
• prepares submissions to the ERA to represent State policies or interests and the interest of energy consumers at large.

The key regulatory issue involves Western Power's Access Arrangement for the South West Interconnected Network (SWIN).  The ERA approved this Access Arrangement on 26 April 200, which it commenced on 1 July 2007.  Further details on the Access Arrangement and on the process for approval of an Access Arrangement are available on the ERA’s website.

Interim Extension and Expansion Policy

Amendments to the Access Code of 29 June and 29 August 2007 have made the previously approved Interim Extension and Expansion Policy redundant and is not referred to, so the Interim Extension and Expansion Policy no longer applies.