The AER received an access arrangement proposal for the South Australian gas distribution network from Envestra Limited (Envestra) on 1 October 2010. The access arrangement proposal outlines the proposed terms and conditions of access for the distribution network for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2016.
Access arrangement proposal
The AER is currently conducting a preliminary examination of the access arrangement proposal submitted by Envestra under the National Gas Law and the National Gas Rules. Once this examination is completed the proposal will be published on the AER website. The AER is planning to host a public forum on the proposal on Friday 29 October 2010 in Adelaide.
Decision making timing and indicative timetable
The AER is required to make an access arrangement final decision to approve or not approve the access arrangement proposal within six months of receipt of Envestra’s proposal, subject to certain ‘stop the clock’ provisions.
The AER is required to follow a prescribed decision making process under the National Gas Rules when reviewing the access arrangement proposal for the South Australian distribution network. The following indicative timetable outlines key stages in the review process. It will be updated after each key stage of the review process.
| Key stages in the decision making process | Scheduled date |
| Publish proposal | 21 October 2010 |
| Forum on proposal in Adelaide | 29 October 2010 |
| Submissions on proposal due | 26 November 2010 |
| Release of draft decision | early February 2011 |
| Forum on draft decision in Adelaide | mid February 2011 |
| Revised proposal to be submitted | early March 2011 |
| Submissions on draft decision due | early April 2011 |
| Release of final decision | early May 2011 |
Note: the AER has engaged consultants to assist it in its review of different aspects of Envestra’s proposal including demand forecasts, operating expenditure and capital expenditure.
Public forums on access arrangement proposal
The AER is holding a public forum on the access arrangement proposal for Envestra. The details are as follows:
Date:
29 October 2010
Time:
10 am to 12.15 pm
Venue:
Stamford Plaza Adelaide Hotel
150 North Terrace
Adelaide
The public forum will provide an opportunity for Envestra to explain its access arrangement proposal. Interested parties will also have an opportunity to ask questions on the access arrangement proposal.
Attached to this notice is a registration form. If you would like to attend the forum, please send a completed registration form to the AER via email to qldsagas
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (qldsagas[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au). The closing date for registration is Wednesday 27 October 2010.
The agenda for the public forum will be emailed to registered participants prior to the public forum.
Further inquiries
Any inquiries about the SA gas distribution review 2010-11 can be sent by email to qldsagasaer [dot] gov [dot] au (qldsagas[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).