On 7 July 2011, the AER released its decision to approve the access arrangement (including the terms and conditions and access arrangement information) drafted by the AER for Envestra’s South Australian gas distribution network for the period 8 July 2011 to 30 June 2016.
Aspects of the AER's decision were reviewed in the Australian Competion Tribunal (Tribunal). On 10 February 2012, the Tribunal varied the AER’s approach to calculating the allowance for the cost of debt, and overturned the AER’s decision to not allow Envestra to recover the costs of a ‘network management fee’ margin included in the charges paid to APA, a related party which provides network services to Envestra.
Access arrangements pre-2011
Before coming under the regulation of the AER, gas distribution network access arrangements for Envestra (SA) Limited were approved by the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA).