It is anticipated that changes will, from time to time, be proposed to the five sets of gas governance rules and regulations which are now in effect.  To ensure that proposed changes are processed efficiently and effectively, it is intended to set rule change guidelines in place.

A consultation paper on the proposed guidelines has been prepared and this can be downloaded here (PDF 59KB).

Submissions are invited by Thursday 27 November, and should be emailed to submissions@gasindustry.co.nz.

Gas Industry Co has a role under clause 25 of the VTC considering appeals in relation to change requests. Under clause 25.7, Gas Industry Co considers appeals and makes binding recommendations as to whether the change should be made.

In consultation with its shippers, Vector Gas Limited (Vector) developed a process for considering change requests and appeals under the VTC. Gas Industry Co and Vector have incorporated that process into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) setting out, in detail, the process that Gas Industry Co will follow when considering appeals. A copy of that MOU is available at:

MOU for VTC change process - final execution version (PDF 67KB)

On 9 October 2008, Gas Industry Co received an appeal from Contact Energy Limited (Contact). The appeal concerns four (out of eight) change requests originally made by Contact where the requests did not result in changes to the VTC. These are described by Contact as follows:

1.         Change Request 4 (Matching Payments In and Out of the BPP Account).

2.         Change Request 5 (Payments In and Out of the BPP Account).

3.         Change Request 6 (Confidentiality).

4.         Change Request 7 (Provision of Vector Running Imbalance Information).

The appeal is available at:

VTC change request appeal by Contact 9 October 2008 (PDF 98KB)

Other information relevant to the appeal:

Vector response 2 Oct 08 12:49pm (PDF 65KB) 

Vector additional response 2 Oct 08 12:57pm (PDF 32KB) 

Contact email 7 Oct 08 9:33am (PDF 80KB)

Shipper notification 16 Oct 08 2:40pm (PDF 76KB)

Process and deadlines

In accordance with its MoU, Gas Industry Co has determined the following timetable for obtaining submissions and cross-submissions, making a draft recommendation, obtaining submissions on that draft and then making its final recommendation to Vector:

Form for submissions

Submitters may identify any information in their submission which they believe to be confidential or commercially sensitive. If a submitter identifies any such information it must also provide the reasons for that belief. Gas Industry Co may delete that information from the submission before publishing it on its website where:

·    it is satisfied that the submitter, or another identified person, would be materially commercially disadvantaged if the information is published;

·    the information is not essential or material to the decision to be made by Gas Industry Co; and

·    it is satisfied that, despite the deletion of the information, other parties and industry participants will not be hindered, ill-informed or otherwise materially disadvantaged when making, or deciding whether or not to make, submissions themselves.

Parties who wish to make submissions on the change request are invited to respond by 5:00 pm on the dates indicated above. Please note that submissions received after those dates may not be able to be considered. By making a submission, submitters agree that Gas Industry Co will not be liable for publishing any information it receives in a submission.

Gas Industry Co’s preference is to receive submissions in electronic form (Microsoft Word format or pdf) with “VTC Change Request Appeal - Submission” in the subject header to submissions@gasindustry.co.nz. A hard copy would also be appreciated and should be posted to:

Ian Wilson
Gas Industry Co, Level 9, State Insurance Tower
1 Willis Street,  

PO Box 10-646
Wellington        

Tel:       +64 4 474 2462
Fax:      +64 4 472 1801

Gas Industry Co will acknowledge receipt of all submissions electronically. 

The following submissions were received:

Energy Direct NZ (PDF 152KB)

Genesis Energy (PDF 49KB)

Mighty River Power (PDF 62KB)

Vector Transmission (PDF 754KB)

Vector Wholesale (PDF 909KB)

The following cross-submissions were received:

Vector cross-submission (PDF 448KB)

Contact cross-submission (PDF 146KB)

Gas Industry Co has received an additional exemption application under the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008 to apply the Global 1-Month UFG methodology to the Kiwitahi 2 gas gate KIW34202.

This notice publishes the exemption application, outlines some additional information and seeks submissions in response. To view the notice, please click here. (PDF 240KB)

The Electricity Commission and Gas Industry Co are seeking applications from persons who wish to be selected as the preferred candidate for approval as a complaints resolution scheme under the Electricity Act 1992 and the Gas Act 1992.  The Request for Applications was issued on 5 September 2008 and can be viewed at or downloaded from the following location:

http://www.electricitycommission.govt.nz/opdev/retail/consumercomplaints

Expressions of interest are requested by 19 September 2008. These can be emailed to tenders@electricitycommission.govt.nz.

Applications must be received by 4pm on 8 December 2008.

The Request for Applications is supported by a Submissions Analysis which responds to the issues raised in the March 2008 consultation document ‘Approval of a Joint Gas and Electricity Complaints Resolution Scheme’.  The submissions analysis can be viewed or downloaded from the following location:

Gas Industry Co invites submissions on a discussion paper on issues related to gas balancing on the Maui and Vector transmission pipelines.

To view the discussion paper, please click here (PDF 609KB)

The paper describes issues arising from existing balancing arrangements, and discusses why regulatory intervention may be necessary. The paper also prepares the ground for future work on developing and analysing alternative balancing options. It discusses the design elements from which such options would be built, and suggests criteria that could be used for evaluating those options.

Gas Industry Co's preference is to receive submissions in electronic form (Microsoft Word format or PDF) with the phrase 'Submission on the Transmission Pipeline Balancing Issues Paper' in the subject header to submissions@gasindustry.co.nz. A hard copy of the submissions should also be posted to the address below:

Sarah Greathead
Team Secretary
Gas Industry Co
Level 9, State Insurance Tower
1 Willis Street
P O Box 10-646
Wellington 6143

Gas Industry Co will acknowledge reciept of all submissions electronically.  

The following submissions were received:

Contact Energy (PDF 125KB)

Energy Direct NZ (PDF 262KB)

Genesis Energy (PDF 136KB)

Maui Development Limited (PDF 270KB) (PDF 394KB)

Mighty River Power (PDF 65KB)

Nova Gas (PDF 27KB)

Shell (PDF 236KB)

Vector (PDF 271KB)

New Zealand Steel (PDF 68KB)

Submissions Analysis paper

After taking into account submissions received, Gas Industry Co has prepared a submissions analysis on the Transmission Pipeline Balancing Issues Paper which can be accessed below:

Submissions Analysis.pdf (PDF 325KB)

Gas Industry Co is now developing an options paper for release this calendar year, submissions on which are anticipated to close in late February 2009.

Gas Industry Co invites submissions on a discussion paper, which has been released in both short (summary) and full form, on “current issues for domestic and small business gas consumers”.  The summary paper is intended for readers who wish to become broadly familiar with the material, but do not intend to make a submission.  It is recommended that stakeholders who intend to make a submission should access the full report.

To view the summary paper, click here (PDF 450KB)

To view the full discussion paper, click here (PDF 1.26MB)

The discussion paper incorporates a review of the approach to dealing with consumer issues in selected overseas jurisdictions and in New Zealand, and provides an account of the work to date by Gas Industry Co in this area.  It then adopts a principles based approach to future work needs by establishing a set of consumer expectations, and analysing the shortfalls in meeting those expectations through current industry practice and gas governance arrangements.  The analysis is based on a defined policy framework.  The discussion paper sets out conclusions on meeting these unsatisfied needs, and the extent to which the required work falls within the mandate of Gas Industry Co to action.  The discussion paper particularly addresses the need for work on retail contractual terms and conditions.

Submissions are invited by no later than 5 pm on Thursday 25 September 2008.  Submissions should be emailed to submissions@gasindustry.co.nz or posted to:

Bas Walker
Gas Industry Co
Level 9, State Insurance Tower, 1 Willis Street
PO Box 10-646
Wellington

Recommended format for submissions (Word 75KB)

The following submissions were received:

Contact Energy (PDF 152KB)

Energy Direct NZ (PDF 1.414MB)

Genesis Energy (PDF 183KB)

LPG Association of New Zealand (PDF 104KB)

Mighty River Power (PDF 279KB)

Powerco (PDF 150KB)

Rinnai New Zealand (PDF 27KB)

Vector (PDF 232KB)

Wellington Community Law Centre (PDF 143KB)

On 20 June 2008 Gas Industry Co received a request from Maui Development Limited (MDL) to consider and make a recommendation in respect of proposed changes to the Maui Pipeline Operating Code (MPOC). MDL describe the changes as being:

‘Amendments agreed by the Maui Mining Companies, comprising:

• the deletion of those parts of the Operating Code that relate to Maui Legacy Gas including those provisions which relate to retrospective allocations of Maui Legacy Gas; and
  
  
• changes to certain parts of the Operating Code relating to the Target Taranaki Pressure.’

The change request and a redlined version of the MPOC are provided at the following links:

MPOC Legacy Change Request (PDF 48KB)

Amended MPOC for Proposed Legacy Changes (PDF 769KB)

In accordance with its Memorandum of Understanding with MDL, Gas Industry Co has determined the following timetable for obtaining submissions on the proposed change request, making a draft recommendation, obtaining submissions on that draft and making its final recommendation to MDL:making its final recommendation to MDL:

Gas Industry Co will publish all submissions and its draft and final recommendations on its website.

A submitter may indicate to Gas Industry Co when its submission is made any information in its submission which it believes to be confidential or commercially sensitive and the reasons for that belief. Gas Industry Co may delete that information from the submission before publishing it on its website where:

• it is satisfied that the submitter, or another identified person, would be materially commercially disadvantaged if the information is published;
  
  
• the information is not essential or material to the decision to be made by Gas Industry Co; and
  
  
• it is satisfied that, despite the deletion of the information, other parties and industry participants will not be hindered, ill-informed or otherwise materially disadvantaged when making, or deciding whether or not to make, submissions themselves.

Parties who wish to make submissions on the change request are invited to respond by 5:00 pm on the dates indicated above. Please note that submissions received after those dates may not be able to be considered.

Gas Industry Co's preference is to receive submissions in electronic form (Microsoft Word format or pdf) with "Submission on MPOC change request" in the subject header to submissions@gasindustry.co.nz. A hard copy would also be appreciated and should be posted to:

Ian Wilson
Gas Industry Co, Level 9, State Insurance Tower
1 Willis Street,
PO Box 10-646
Wellington      

Tel:      +64 4 474 2462
Fax:      +64 4 472 1801

Gas Industry Co will acknowledge receipt of all submissions electronically. 

The following submissions were received:

Contact Energy (PDF 50KB)

Mighty River Power (PDF 34KB)

Vector Limited (PDF 386KB)

Maui Development Limited (PDF 301KB)

Late submissions received:

Nova Gas (PDF 47KB)

Nova Gas (supplementary) (PDF 47KB)

Genesis Energy (PDF 46KB)

Greymouth Gas (PDF 25KB)

Draft Recommendation

In response to MDL's Change Request, having considered the above submissions made in respect of the Change Request, Gas Industry Co has prepared the following draft recommendation. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with MDL, Gas Industry Co invites submissions on the draft recommendation from MDL, parties to the MPOC and parties who submitted on the Change Request. Submissions should be received by 5:00pm on 22 September 2008, and may not be able to be considered after that date.

To view the draft recommendation, click here (PDF 274KB)

To view the revised MPOC, click here (PDF 639KB)

Gas Industry Co's preference is to receive submissions in electronic form (Microsoft Word format, or PDF) with "Submission on MPOC draft recommendation" in the subject header to submissions@gasindustry.co.nz. A hard copy would also be appreciated, and should be posted to:

Ian Wilson
Gas Industry Co
Level 9, State Insurance Tower
1 Willis Street
P O Box 10-646
Wellington 6143

Gas Industry Co will acknowledge receipt of all submissions electronically. 

The following submissions were received too late to be considered for the purposes of the draft recommendation:

Energy Direct NZ (PDF 19KB)

Mighty River Power (PDF 80KB)

Todd Energy (PDF 117KB)

The following submissions on the draft recommendation were received:

Genesis (PDF 21KB)

Mighty River Power (PDF 66KB)

Vector (PDF 346KB)

Contact Energy (PDF 636KB)

Final Recommendation

After taking into account submissions received on the draft recommendation, Gas Industry Co has prepared a final recommendation on the MPOC ‘legacy’ Change Request received from MDL on 20 June 2008. Gas Industry Co is not calling for submissions on the final recommendation as it does not consider that it is fundamentally different from the draft recommendation. In accordance with the MoU between Gas Industry Co and MDL, the final recommendation has been notified to MDL, parties to MPOC and submitters, and can be accessed by clicking below:

Final Recommendation on Maui Pipeline Operating Code (MPOC) 'legacy' Change Request (PDF 1.085MB)

Marked-up MPOC (PDF 568KB)

On 21 May 2008, Gas Industry Co received a request to consider and make a recommendation in respect of a proposed change to the Maui Pipeline Operating Code (MPOC).

A copy of the change request is available by clicking on the link below:

Application for Gas Industry Company's Recommendation on Proposed Amendments to the Maui Pipeline Operating Code (PDF 85 KB)

Gas Industry Co previously asked potential submitters if, considering the nature of the proposed changes, anyone would object to Gas Industry Co issuing a draft determination on the proposed changes, without holding an initial consultation. However, as one party considers that the proposed change has some contentious elements, Gas Industry Co has decided to follow the full consultation process set out in its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Maui Development Limited (MDL).

In accordance with the MOU, Gas Industry Co has determined the following timetable for obtaining submissions on the proposed change request, making a draft recommendation, obtaining submissions on that draft and making its final recommendation to MDL:

Gas Industry Co will publish all submissions and its draft and final recommendations on this website.

A submitter may indicate to Gas Industry Co when its submission is made any information in its submission which it believes to be confidential or commercially sensitive and the reasons for that belief. Gas Industry Co may delete that information from the submission before publishing it on the website where:

• It is satisfied that the submitter, or another identified person, would be materially commercially disadvantaged if the information is published;
  
• The information is not essential or material to the decision to be made by Gas Industry Co; and
  
• It is satisfied that, despite the deletion of the information, other parties and industry participants will not be hindered, ill-informed or otherwise materially disadvantaged when making, or deciding whether or not to make, submissions themselves.

Parties who wish to make submissions on the change request are invited to respond by 5:00 pm on the dates indicated above. Please note that submissions received after those dates may not be able to be considered.

Gas Industry Co's preference is to receive submissions in electronic form (Microsoft Word format or pdf) with "Submission on MPOC change request" in the subject header to submissions@gasindustry.co.nz. A hard copy would also be appreciated and should be posted to:

Ian Wilson
Gas Industry Co, Level 9, State Insurance Tower
1 Willis Street,

PO Box 10-646
Wellington      

Tel:      +64 4 474 2462
Fax:      +64 4 472 1801

Gas Industry Co will acknowledge receipt of all submissions electronically. Please contact Ian Wilson if you do not receive electronic acknowledgement of your submission within two business days.

The following submissions were received:

MDL (PDF 160KB)

Mighty River Power (PDF 18KB)

Vector (PDF 286KB)

Draft Recommendation on Maui Pipeline Operating Code (MPOC) 'typos' Change Request

In response to MDL's Change Request, and in consideration of the above submissions made in respect to the Change Request, Gas Industry Co has prepared the following draft recommendation. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with MDL, Gas Industry Co invites submissions on the draft recommendation from MDL, parties to the MPOC and parties who submitted on the Change Request. Submissions should be received by 5:00pm  on 28 August 2008, and may not be able to be considered after that date.

To view the draft recommendation, click here (PDF 201KB)

To view the revised MPOC, click here (PDF 703KB)

Gas Industry Co's preference is to receive submissions in electronic form (Microsoft Word format, or PDF) with "Submission on MPOC draft recommendation" in the subject header to submissions@gasindustry.co.nz. A hard copy would also be appreciated, and should be posted to:

Ian Wilson
Gas Industry Co
P O Box 10-646
Wellington 6143

Gas Industry Co will acknowledge receipt of all submissions electronically. 

The following submissions on the draft recommendation were received:

Vector (PDF 223KB)

Final Recommendation on Maui Pipeline Operating Code (MPOC) 'typos' Change Request

After taking into account submissions received on its draft recommendation, Gas Industry Co has prepared a final recommendation on the MPOC 'typos' Change Request received from MDL on 21 May 2008. Gas Industry Co is not calling for submissions on the final recommendation as it does not consider that it is fundamentally different from the draft recommendation. In accordance with the MoU between Gas Industry Co and MDL, the final recommendation has been notified to MDL, parties to MPOC and submitters, and can be accessed by clicking here. (PDF 159KB)

A copy of the marked up MPOC can be accessed by clicking here. (PDF 561KB)