In line with the Gas Supply and Emergency Management Committee (GSEMC) recommendations, the Minister for Energy has agreed to establish a Gas Bulletin Board (GBB) and Gas Statement of Opportunities (GSOO) in WA. The Independent Market Operator (IMO) has been selected to administer the arrangements.
The GBB and GSOO are intended to improve information transparency across the gas supply-demand chain for existing and potential market participants.
Delivery
The GBB will consist of a website comprising near term system and market information on gas production, transmission, storage capacity and demand. The GBB may also include a feature to facilitate the introduction of buyers and sellers of gas (commodity and transport), but this will not comprise a formal trading platform or provide market settlement services. It will also provide an emergency information page to assist Government and industry in the management of gas supply disruptions, and may host information in relation to broader specification gas requirements (which are under development as part of a separate work program).
The GSOO is intended to comprise of a comprehensive periodic, medium to long-term outlook of gas supply and demand in WA, highlighting where potential commodity shortfalls or transportation constraints may occur in the future.
The Office of Energy engaged Marchment Hill Consulting Pty Ltd (MHC) to assist with initial consultation on information requirements for the GBB and GSOO. View the terms of reference for the consultation.
The MHC Draft Recommendations for the GBB and GSOO were released on 31 August 2011.
The Office of Energy will work with the IMO to progress the information requirements for the GBB and methodology for the GSOO, taking into account consultation undertaken by MHC.
A Bill which provides for the IMO to commence work towards establishment of the arrangements was introduced by the Minister for Energy in Parliament in the 2011 spring session. Once the Bill has passed, a consolidated regulatory package will be implemented in 2012 to provide for the implementation of the GBB and GSOO.
Public consultation
The MHC Draft Recommendations for the GBB and GSOO were released on 31 August 2011 following a stakeholder forum held at the Perth Convention Centre. Presentations were given at the forum by Dr Paul Biggs (A/Director, Office of Energy), Mr Allan Dawson (CEO, Independent Market Operator) and Mr Ben Connor (Marchment Hill Consulting):
Key concepts from the Recommendations for the GBB and GSOO, together with information on processes for developing the detailed design of the arrangements and key steps for implementation of the regulatory framework, were discussed at the forum.
The MHC Draft Recommendations for the GBB and GSOO
Interested parties were invited to make a submission on the proposed MHC Draft Recommendations by 1 October 2011. Submissions will soon be available online.
Contact
Natalia Kostecki, Office of Energy
Email: natalia.kostecki@energy.wa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 9420 5686
