Derogation on Price Reporting from the Gas Pipeline Regulation National Package
Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.
We want your feedback on proposed information disclosure requirements for gas service providers under the National Gas Law to apply in South Australia.
What's being decided?
A national process is underway to develop and consult on proposed amendments to the National Gas Law to require gas service providers to disclose the individual prices paid by gas shippers, including key terms and conditions.
We are intending to require different disclosure requirements on gas service providers to ensure the continued availability of bespoke services which are valued by gas shippers in South Australia.
The purpose of this consultation is to explore alternate disclosure requirement options to apply in South Australia.
Background
In May 2021, Energy Ministers released the Options to Improve Gas Pipeline Regulation, Regulation Impact Statement for Decision (DRIS) which outlines improvements to the gas pipeline regulatory framework following an extensive stakeholder consultation process.
The DRIS seeks to address many problems identified with the current regulatory framework, one of which is information disclosure. To mitigate information asymmetries, the DRIS requires service providers of pipelines that are providing third party access to publish a suite of basic information – see Box 8.1 of the DRIS, as well as historical financial and demand information. In addition, service providers will be required to publish information on the individual prices paid by shippers, which includes key terms and conditions.
Get involved
Read the Consultation Paper.
Have your say by:
- emailing submissions to demenergymarketreform@sa.gov.au
- registering interest for an online workshop at 12.30 pm (ACST) on Wednesday, 15 September 2021 through demenergymarketreform@sa.gov.au by cob Monday, 13 September 2021. An email with log in details will be sent to those who register prior to the meeting.
What are the next steps?
Feedback will be consolidated and considered to determine the appropriate price information disclosure requirements to apply in South Australia and draft regulations will be prepared.
If you would like to provide any comments in addition to a submission or discuss this consultation further, please email demenergymarketreform@sa.gov.au.
Update
It is proposed that the changes be made to South Australian regulatory instruments to require the information disclosure reporting requirements of anonymised minimum and maximum prices, along with weighted average prices for gas that is supplied to an end use customer in South Australia. This proposal reflects the majority of submissions received to the consultation papers. These can be accessed in the documents section.
Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.
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Notification of removal of previous SA government derogation on price reporting from the Gas Pipeline Regulation National Package
On 8 June 2022, Energy Ministers acknowledged the current challenges facing the east-coast energy market are significant. They provide however, an opportunity for the Commonwealth, states and territories to work collaboratively, with the support of the market operator and regulator, ensuring Australians continue to have access to reliable and affordable energy.
Energy Ministers agreed on a number of actions that can be progressed immediately, to help settle and restore confidence in the market both in the short and medium term.
Energy Ministers noted the existing gas transparency reform package had been recently introduced into the South Australian Parliament. The gas transparency package has now passed the South Australian Parliament and commenced on Thursday 23 June 2022. Energy Ministers also agreed to consider additional legislative reform options in July to enable new gas and electricity contract market monitoring powers as an immediate priority.
The package of transparency reforms to complement the above initiative includes the National Energy Laws Amendment (Gas Pipelines) Bill 2021. Energy Ministers have released an information paper to provide a high-level overview of the package.
The previous South Australian Government proposed a derogation from service providers being required to publish information on the individual prices paid by shippers (including key terms and conditions). Stakeholder consultation was undertaken on this derogation.
The impact of the proposed derogation, identified by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, would limit the transparency of pricing on gas pipelines in South Australia. This may make it more difficult for gas suppliers or South Australian shippers to negotiate and agree gas transportation prices to ensure gas is supplied to southern states when needed.
The current South Australian government never supported a derogation and will therefore remove all elements of the derogation and implement the gas pipeline package as originally intended.
The three packages of gas transparency reforms are:
- Gast Market Transparency
- Gas Pipeline Regulation
- Market monitoring
The above packages will help position the energy sector to be more resilient and able to navigate future global or domestic challenges, ensuring a secure sector that will underpin a modern and low carbon economy.
You can find out more about the outcome of this consultation on the Department of Energy and Mining website.
