Access arrangements

On 30 March 2010, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) released its final decision on ActewAGL’s proposed Access Arrangement (AA) to apply ActewAGL’s Distribution’s ACT, Queanbeyan and Palerang gas distribution network for the period 2010-11 to 2014-15 and on 27 April 2010 the AER released the AA and accompanying Access Arrangement Information (AAI) incorporating the changes to ActewAGL’s revised AA proposal required by its final decision. The AA took effect from 1 July 2010.

The AA and the AAI were subsequently amended by order of the Australian Competition Tribunal following review of elements of the final decision. The amended AAI should be read in conjunction with ActewAGL's AAI accompanying its proposed AA of 30 June 2009 and the AAI addendum submitted with ActewAGL revised AA proposal of 6 January 2010.

 

 

 

The AA contains a suite of services and prices along with the associated terms and conditions for those services. All of these will form the basis of any Transportation Agreements that ActewAGL Distribution will enter into with Users (generally retailers).

The services in the AA include seven Reference Services, one Non-reference Service and a Negotiated Service. They are as follows:

1. Reference services

Capacity reservation service

This transportation service has its charges determined on the basis of capacity reserved (GJ of MDQ). The service includes two options that provide flexibility. These are:

  • Summer tranche option — provides the option of reserving an additional tranche of capacity between the months of October and April
  • Short term capacity option — provides the option of reserving additional short term capacity under certain special conditions which differ depending on whether the annual consumption at the delivery point is more or less than 30 TJ.

Managed capacity service

This service is similar to the Capacity Reservation Service, but uses the prior year's actual maximum daily withdrawal as the minimum basis for reservation quantity or a higher figure nominated by the user. This service is not subject to overruns on MDQ and provides flexibility for users, particularly where daily demand for delivery point is expected to grow.

Throughput service

Charges for this service are based on annual consumption rather than capacity.

Multiple delivery point service

This service allows Users (either retailers or customers) with multiple delivery points to simplify arrangements with ActewAGL Distribution by entering into a single agreement for transportation covering a number of delivery points for that User.

Tariff service

This service provides for delivery of gas to delivery points with annual consumption less than 10 TJ pa.

Meter data service

This service provides for reading of meters and handling of meter data. The service has been established in conjunction with the introduction of retail contestability.

Ancillary service

These are services for the provision of: (i) requests for services; (ii) special meter reads; (iii) disconnection; and (iv) reconnection.

2. Non-reference services

Interconnection of Embedded Network Service

This is a service to provide for the establishment of a single delivery point from the Network to an embedded network.

3. Negotiated service

This is a transportation service specifically designed to meet needs of users that are not met by the Reference and Non-Reference Services.

 

There is a single pricing zone for all customers supplied under the ActewAGL Distribution Access Arrangement, reflecting the relatively small geographical extent of the ACT, Queanbeyan and Palerang gas network.

Further information

This information is intended to provide a general outline of the elements contained in ActewAGL Distribution's Access Arrangement (PDF, 324KB).

It is not intended to be, nor is it a complete or definitive statement of terms of the Access Arrangement. Copies of the Access Arrangement can also be obtained from the AER website and hard copies are available by contacting Manager Gas Networks on 6270 7420 or emailing gasnetworks@actewagl.com.au.

Enquiries about access to the distribution system (on behalf of ActewAGL Distribution) should be made to the Commercial Operations Manager of Jemena Asset Management by calling 02 9455 1552 or by faxing 02 9455 1673.