The AER is required to make an access arrangement final decision within six months of receipt of Jemena’s proposal to approve or not approve the access arrangement proposal. This period can be extended by the AER but must be completed within 13 months.
The AER is required to follow a prescribed decision making process under the National Gas Rules (NGR) when reviewing the access arrangement for the Jemena (NSW) Gas Networks. The following indicative timetable outlines key stages in the review process. It will be updated after each key stage of the review process.
Scheduled dates for key stages in the decision making process
Key stages in the decision making process
Scheduled date
Publish proposal
15 September 2009
Forum on proposal in Sydney *
23 September 2009
Submissions on proposal
10 November 2009
Release of draft decision
Early February 2010
Forum on draft decision in Sydney *
late February 2010
Revised proposal to be submitted
Mid March 2010
Submissions on draft decision
End April 2010
Release of final decision
End May 2010
* Steps not mandated under the NGR
Note: the AER has engaged consultants to assist it in its review different aspects of Jemena’s proposal including demand forecasts, operating expenditure and capital expenditure.
Stop the clock
The AER made the following decisions under rule 11 of the NGR.
Consultation process on access arrangement proposal
As required under the NGR, the AER decided that the period of 56 days for consultation on the proposal was not counted towards the decision making time for the full access arrangement final decision.
Consultation process on the draft decision
As required under the NGR, the AER decided that the period of 77 days for consultation on the draft decision was not counted towards the decision making time for the full access arrangement final decision.