Final consultation on gas pipeline services

Final consultation on input methodologies for gas pipeline services

The Commerce Commission today released its revised draft input methodologies determinations for gas pipeline services for technical consultation. A revised draft determination for each of gas distribution and gas transmission services has been released. This is expected to be the last consultation step before the input methodologies for gas pipeline services are finalised.

The draft decisions for the input methodologies were consulted on from June to September this year. A consultation update paper outlining the key changes to the draft input methodologies determinations is being released with the revised draft determinations.

The Commission is seeking submissions on whether the revised draft determinations give effect to the updated draft decisions. Submissions on the revised draft determinations are due in two stages. Submissions on Parts 1 to 4 (and associated Schedules) of the revised draft determinations are due by 5pm on Friday 12 November 2010 and submissions on Part 5 (and associated Schedules) are due by 5pm on Friday 19 November 2010. Once the Commission has considered submissions on the revised draft determinations, it will finalise the input methodologies by 31 December 2010.

The revised draft input methodologies determinations for gas pipeline services, along with the consultation update paper, can be accessed on the Commission’s website at www.comcom.govt.nz/input-methodologies

Background

The purpose of input methodologies is to promote certainty for suppliers and consumers in relation to the rules, requirements and processes applying to the regulation, or proposed regulation, of goods or services under Part 4 of the Commerce Act 1986.

Gas pipeline services are subject to information disclosure and default/customised price-quality regulation under Part 4. The Commission is treating gas distribution and gas transmission services as two separate types of regulated services for the purpose of determining input methodologies.

Draft decisions for input methodologies for gas pipeline services were released for consultation on 21 June 2010 and 2 July 2010. Since then, the Commission has:

- considered all submissions and cross submissions received on its draft input methodologies for gas pipeline services; and
- revised its draft input methodologies determination for gas pipeline services.

ENDS

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