The AER received access arrangement proposals for the Queensland gas distribution networks from APT Allgas Energy Pty Limited (APT Allgas) and Envestra Limited (Envestra) on 30 September and 1 October 2010 respectively. The access arrangement proposals outline the proposed terms and conditions of access for the Queensland gas distribution networks 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 proposals submitted by APT Allgas and Envestra under the National Gas Law and the National Gas Rules. Once this examination is completed the proposals will be published on the AER website. The AER is planning to host a public forum on the proposals on Thursday 28 October 2010 in Brisbane.
Decision making timing and indicative timetable
The AER is required to make access arrangement final decisions to approve or not approve the access arrangement proposals within six months of receipt of the proposals, 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 proposals for the Queensland distribution networks. 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 proposals | 21 October 2010 |
| Forum on proposals in Brisbane | 28 October 2010 |
| Submissions on proposals due | 26 November 2010 |
| Release of draft decision | early February 2011 |
| Forum on draft decisions in Brisbane | mid February 2011 |
| Revised proposals to be submitted | early March 2011 |
| Submissions on draft decisions due | early April 2011 |
| Release of final decisions | early May 2011 |
Note: the AER has engaged consultants to assist it in its review of different aspects of APT Allgas’s and Envestra’s proposals 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 proposals for APT Allgas and Envestra. The details are as follows:
Date
28 October 2010
Time
10 am to 2.15 pm
Venue
Mercure Hotel
85-87 North Quay
Brisbane
The public forum will provide an opportunity for APT Allgas and Envestra to explain the access arrangement proposals. 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 Tuesday 26 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 Qld gas distribution reviews 2010-11 can be sent by email to qldsagasaer [dot] gov [dot] au (qldsagas[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).