The AER received the access arrangement proposal for the Wagga Wagga distribution network owned and operated by Country Energy Gas Pty Ltd (Country Energy) on 1 July 2009. The access arrangement proposal outlines the proposed terms and conditions of access for the distribution network for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2015.
Access arrangement proposal
The AER is currently conducting a preliminary examination of the access arrangement revision proposal submitted by Country Energy under the National Gas Law and the National Gas Rules. Once this examination is completed the proposal will be published on the AER website. Persons wishing to be notified of this will need to register by email. The AER is planning to host a public forum on the proposal on Tuesday 28 July 2009 in Wagga Wagga.
Decision making timing and indicative timetable
The AER is required to make an access arrangement final decision within six months of receipt of Country Energy’s proposal to approve or not approve the access arrangement revision proposal.
The AER is required to follow a prescribed decision making process under the National Gas Rules when reviewing the access arrangement for the Wagga Wagga 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 so that it is clear what the cumulative decision making time is under the National Gas Rules.
| Key stages in the decision making process | Scheduled date |
| Publish proposal | 22 July 2009 |
| Forum on proposal in Wagga Wagga* | 28 July 2009 |
| Submission on proposal | 11 September 2009 |
| Release of draft decision | 11 November 2009 |
| Forum on draft decision in Sydney* | 19 November 2009 |
| Forum on draft decision in Wagga Wagga (to be confirmed)* | 26 November 2009 |
| Revised proposal to be submitted | 4 January 2010 |
| Submissions on draft decision | 12 February 2010 |
| Release of final decision | 1 April 2010 |
*Steps not mandated under the National Gas Rules
Note: the AER has engaged consultants to assist it in its review different aspects of Country Energy’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 Country Energy. The details are as follows:
Date:
28 July 2009
Time:
11.00 am to 12.30 pm
Venue:
Carriage House Motor Inn (Quality Inn)
Sturt Highway, Wagga Wagga
R.S.V.P by email to Sarah [dot] Curby
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (Sarah[dot]Curby[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au) by 5 pm on 24 July 2009: the names of attendees, organisation and contact details indicating which forum and date you are interested in attending.
Further inquiries
For any other inquiries about the gas distribution reviews 2009-2010, please contact the AER on (02) 6243 1233. Alternatively, inquiries can be sent electronically to nswactgasaer [dot] gov [dot] au (nswactgas[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).