Multinet Gas Networks (Multinet) is revising its access arrangement for the 5-year period from 1 July 2028 to 30 June 2033 (2028–33 period).
On 1 June 2026, Multinet submitted its reference service proposal for its distribution system for the delivery of gas throughout Victoria. This reference service proposal has been prepared as part of the revision to the Multinet's access arrangement for the 2028–33 period.
Multinet is required to submit to the AER for approval its reference service proposal 12 months prior to submission of its access arrangement for the period 1 July 2028 to 30 June 2033 (due by 1 June 2026).
Interested parties were invited to make a submission on Multinet's reference service proposal by 1 July 2026. Submissions are now closed. We received two submissions.
The NGR require us to complete our assessment of a reference service proposal no later than 6 months in advance of the due date for submission of the relevant access arrangement revisions proposal. Therefore, we were required to conclude our assessment no later than 1 December 2026.
On 1 October 2026, the AER made its decision on Multinet's reference service proposal. Our decision was to not approve the proposal. We considered it was not consistent with the regulatory requirements due to classification of the abolishment service as a reference service and the inclusion of no access and incomplete meter fix as services. Details are set out in the AER decision paper.
The AER has revised the reference service proposal to address our reasons for not approving the initial proposal, and has published the revised reference service proposal. The key changes between the initial and revised proposals are the reclassification of the abolishment service as a non-reference service and the removal of the no access (gas meter) and incomplete meter fix services from the services list.
The next step is for the AER to make a decision to give effect to the revised reference service proposal. The NGR require that we do this as soon as practicable after publishing the revised reference service proposal.