On 27 May 2011, APT Pipelines NT Pty Ltd (APTNT) applied to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) under s. 146 of the National Gas Law (NGL) for an exemption from its ring fencing obligations under s. 140 of the NGL.

The application was made in anticipation of APTNT’s acquisition of the Amadeus Gas Pipeline  and shares in NT Gas Distribution Pty Ltd (NTGD), which occurred on 17 June 2011.

On 1 July 2011, the AER published its draft decision to approve the exemption application. No submissions were received by the AER on its draft decision.

On 12 August 2011, the AER exempted APTNT from its ring fencing obligations under s. 140 of the NGL.

The exemption allowed staff of APTNT to undertake marketing and sales work for NTGD, which was an associate company taking part in a related business.

The final decision also repealed a previous ring fencing exemption granted to NT Gas Pty Ltd by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in March 2002.