The AER is responsible for the regulation of gas transmission and distribution networks under the National Gas Law in all jurisdictions except Western Australia.
The AER expects to receive an access arrangement proposal from the Amadeus Basin to Darwin Pipeline (ABDP) in January 2011.
The AER is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified consultants to provide services to the AER in relation to its upcoming assessment of the access arrangement proposal for the ABDP. In particular, expressions of interest are sought from consultants who could provide technical advice to the AER with regard to the forecasts or estimates of capital expenditure, operating expenditure and demand.
The consultant would be required to provide advice that would be considered by the AER in making a decision about the access arrangement proposal under the National Gas Rules. In particular, rule 79 sets out the criteria for capital expenditure and rule 91 sets out the criteria for operating expenditure. The consultant(s) would be primarily concerned with providing technical advice about the proposed forecasts or estimates of capital expenditure and operating expenditure.
The AER’s decision is subject to merits review by the Australian Competition Tribunal and judicial review in the Federal Court. A consultant’s analysis and reports must be produced at a standard for consideration in this context if required.
Expressions of interest are sought by 5 pm on 31 August 2010 and can be emailed to ABDPgasreview
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (ABDPgasreview[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).
Disclaimer: The Commonwealth is not committed contractually in any way to those parties registering a preliminary expression of interest. This request does not commit or otherwise oblige the Commonwealth to proceed with any part of the requirement described herein.