Distribution Pricing
Prior to 1 July 2008, third party access to gas pipelines in Australia was subject to regulation under the National Third Party Access Code for Natural Gas Pipeline Systems (the Code).
The natural gas distribution pipeline system in South Australia owned by Envestra Limited (Envestra) is currently subject to an Access Arrangement as approved by the Commission under the Code, that allows third-party users and prospective users to obtain access to certain gas pipeline services. The Access Arrangement sets out the default terms and conditions on which Envestra will provide access to its distribution system. The Access Arrangement expires on 30 June 2011.
The Commission was the economic regulator for the South Australian gas distribution system owned by Envestra Limited (Envestra) from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2008. It succeeded the South Australian Independent Pricing and Access Regulator (SAIPAR), which undertook this role between April 1998 and June 2003.
From 1 July 2008, with the commencement of a new National Gas Law, the economic regulation functions of South Australia's distribution network transferred to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
Under this new national energy regulatory framework, the AER will be responsible for conducting the next review of the Access Arrangement for Envestra's gas distribution network in South Australia, for the period July 2011 - June 2016. In addition, the AER will also assume responsibility for administration of the existing Access Arrangement for Envestra's gas distribution network.
