Gas Industry Co has developed the following guideline notes in respect of the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008 ("the Rules"):

- Guideline note - rules 34 - 37 historic and forward estimates, and seasonal adjustments

- Guideline note - the submissions of revisions to the allocation agent

These guidelines notes are available for viewing or downloading here.

Gas Industry Co has prepared a submissions analysis on the Transmission Pipeline Balancing issues paper which can be accessed by clicking here, then scroll down to the “Discussion Paper on Transmission Pipeline Balancing” section.

Gas Industry Co has developed the following guideline notes to assist allocation participants and the allocation agent in interpreting and applying aspects of the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008 (“the Rules”):

·    Guideline note rule 5 – definition of gas gate

·    Guideline note rule 52 – annual reconciliation

These guideline notes are available for viewing or downloading at the following location:

http://www.gasindustry.co.nz/Downstream_Reconciliation.php

Gas Industry Co is currently developing guideline notes for rules 34-37 (historic estimates), rule 51 (special allocations) and rule 61(determination of profiles), which are intended to be issued in due course.

In the longer term, the intention is to compile these and any future guideline notes into a single compendium for ease of reference.  Individual notes will be kept separate inside the compendium to make it easier to update particular items. At that stage, a “contents page” will be formulated and placed at the same location, so they can be downloaded for those keeping a hard copy of the compendium. The contents page will be updated whenever a new guideline note is issued (or any existing note amended).

On 31 July 2008, Gas Industry Co gave notice specifying information exchange file formats in respect of information required under the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008.  This notice was revised on 25 August 2008 with some minor amendments to the information exchange file formats. 

Notice under the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008 specifying information exchange file formats

On 31 July 2008, Gas Industry Co gave notice specifying information exchange file formats in respect of information required under the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008.  Following a request from Contact Energy and consultation on the request with allocation participants, Gas Industry Co now issues a revised notice which includes some minor amendments to the information exchange file formats.  The notice is available in two forms - a clean version which is the actual notice and a marked up version which enables changes from the previous notice to be identified.   The notice is available for viewing or downloading at the following location:

Notice (PDF 198KB)

Marked Up Notice (PDF 199KB)

The 31 July 2008 notice has been amended to include the following:

• An "Allocation Group" field in the allocation agent reports GAR1010, GAR020 and GAR030;
  
  
• Clarification of the sender code on page 3 (from "RETA" to "SENA");
  
  
• Amendment to GAS040 and GAS060 to ensure the number of numerals for the "Number of Installations" field in GAS040, GAS060 and GAS 080 is consistent at 6 numerals.

It is noted that very shortly Gas Industry Co intends to release a determinations notice concerning the second part of the consultation paper released on 13 June 2008 (including, amongst other things, determinations on the rule 37 accuracy percentage and rule 5 groups of gas gates, i.e. notional delivery points.)

Under section 43O of the Gas Act 1992, Gas Industry Co must, no later than 10 working days after making a recommendation to the Minister of Energy on gas governance arrangements, publicise that recommendation and the assessment completed under section 43N of the Act.

On 30 June 2008, Gas Industry Co made a recommendation for an amendment to the proposed Gas Governance (Compliance) Regulations for the compliance with and enforcement of the regulations establishing arrangements for the management of critical contingencies. The text of this recommendation, including the assessment under section 43N of the Act, is available below:

Recommendation to the Minister of Energy on Amendment to Gas Governance (Compliance) Regulations

Under section 43O of the Gas Act 1992 Gas Industry Co must, no later than 10 working days after making a recommendation to the Minister of Energy on gas governance arrangements, publicise that recommendation and the assessment completed under section 43N of the Act.

On 30 June 2008, Gas Industry Co made a recommendation in respect of arrangements for the effective management of critical gas contingencies. The text of this recommendation, including the assessments under section 43N of the Act, is available through the website link below:

Recommendation to the Minister of Energy on Arrangements for the Effective Management of Critical Gas Contingencies

The Gas (Levy of Industry Participants) Regulations 2008 were gazetted on 26 May 2008 and are effective from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.

A copy of the regulations is available on the following link. Gas (Levy of Industry Participants) Regulations 2008

Under section 430 of the Gas Act 1992 Gas Industry Co must, no later than 10 working days after making a recommendation to the Minister of Energy on gas governance arrangements, publicise that recommendation and the assessment completed under section 43N of the Act.

On 12 March 2008, Gas Industry Co made a recommendation in respect of arrangements for the allocation and reconciliation of downstream gas quantities. The text of this recommendation, including the assessments under section 43N of the Act, are available through the website link below:

Recommendation to the Minister of Energy on Arrangements for the Allocation and Reconciliation of Downstream Gas Quantities

Under section 43O of the Gas Act 1992, Gas Industry Co must, no later than 10 working days after making a recommendation to the Minister of Energy on gas governance arrangements, publicise that recommendation and the assessment completed under section 43N of the Act.

On 12 March 2008, Gas Industry Co made a recommendation for amendments to the Gas (Compliance) Regulations for compliance with, and enforcement of, the rules relating to the allocation and reconciliation of downstream gas quantities. The text of this recommendation, including the assessment under section 43N of the Act, is available below:

Recommendation to the Minister of Energy on Amendment to Gas (Compliance) Regulations

Under section 43O of the Gas Act 1992 Gas Industry Co must, no later than 10 working days after making a recommendation to the Minister of Energy on gas governance arrangements, publicise that recommendation and the assessment completed under section 43N of the Act.

On 28 January 2008, Gas Industry Co made a recommendation for an amendment to regulations for enforcement of rules requiring information disclosure by gas processing facility owners. The text of this recommendation, including the assessment under section 43N of the Act, is available below:

Under section 43O of the Gas Act 1992 Gas Industry Co must, no later than 10 working days after making a recommendation to the Minister of Energy on gas governance arrangements, publicise that recommendation and the assessment completed under section 43N of the Act.

On 28 January 2008, Gas Industry Co made a recommendation for rules requiring information disclosure by gas processing facility owners. The text of this recommendation, including the assessment under section 43N of the Act, is available below:

Recommendation on Gas (Processing Facilities Information Disclosure) Rules

To view the paper please click here 

To download the word version of the draft regulations please click here

Please click here to view the proposal.

To download a word version of the Draft Rules, please click here.

Gas Industry Co's third annual conference for industry participants will be held between 9am and 2.30pm on Thursday, 11 October 2007 in Wellington.

The conference, titled "Next Steps in Gas Governance", will focus on Gas Industry Co's progress in delivering on the objectives set out in the October 2004 Government Policy Statement on Gas Governance (GPS). The conference also provides an excellent opportunity for industry participants to gain a holistic view of Gas Industry Co's progress on initiatives spanning the supply chain.

It is intended that the conference sessions will be interactive, so there will be opportunities for industry participants to discuss topics and issues with Gas Industry Co staff. This is another opportunity to provide input into the design of Gas Industry Co's future work programme.

Efficient arrangements for the accurate allocation and reconciliation of gas quantities are a key component of an efficient gas market. In response to:

• the Government's desire in the 2004 Government Policy Statement on Gas Governance for, amongst other things, the development of protocols and standards applying to balancing and reconciliation; and
• requests by industry participants;

Gas Industry Co has developed a proposal to recommend to the Minister of Energy rules for allocation and reconciliation of downstream gas quantities.

Submissions on the proposal are sought by 5.00pm on Monday, 8 October 2007.

• View the proposal
• Recommended format for submissions
• Draft allocation and reconciliation rules
• Draft compliance regulations

Gas Industry Co intends to hold a workshop on the proposed draft rules at Gas Industry Co's offices on Tuesday, 18 September 2007 from 10.00am to 12.00 noon.

Please click here to register for the workshop

Gas Industry Co has released a statement of proposal in respect of information disclosure by owners of gas processing facilities. This proposal follows from the December 2006 recommendation to the Minister of Energy relating to protocols for access to gas processing facilities. That recommendation, subsequently approved by the Minister, suggested pursuing an industry arrangement for information disclosure, with a fall-back to a regulated option if the industry arrangement proved infeasible.

As progress on the industry arrangement has stalled, Gas Industry Co has had to resort to preparing a proposal to regulate. Given that the statement of proposal rests on the analysis contained in the discussion paper released in August 2006 (and available on www.gasindustry.co.nz) it is not proposed to hold a workshop on this topic.

Transmission Access Framework - Towards a Statement of Proposal, with attached International Review of Access Principles

To view click here

Industry members have requested Gas Industry Co to develop mandatory arrangements to replace the voluntary National Gas Outage Contingency Plan. This Statement of Proposal puts forward replacement arrangements which are a combination of Regulations under the Gas Act and industry-developed arrangements to meet the requirements of those Regulations.

Submissions on the Proposal are sought by 5:00 pm on Friday, 14 September 2007.

• View the Proposal (PDF 2.254MB)
• Recommended Format for Submissions (Word 50KB)
• OCM (Draft) Regulations

In addition to the increase in the levy rates, wholesale levy payers should note that, from 1 July 2007, the wholesale levy will be payable in respect of gas purchased during the month prior to the levy being payable, rather than on gas purchased during the quarter before the last quarter. This will mean, for example, that the wholesale levy payable on 20 July 2007 will be payable in respect of gas purchased during June 2007. As a consequence, gas purchased during January 2007 to May 2007 will not be used to calculate the levy.

If you have any questions about the levy please contact Helen Brown, Senior Adviser Finance, on 04 472 1800.

Under section 430 of the Gas Act 1992 Gas Industry Co must, no later than 10 working days after making a recommendation to the Minister of Energy on gas governance arrangements, publicise that recommendation and the assessment completed under section 43N of the Act.

On 31 May 2007, Gas Industry Co made two recommendations in respect of arrangements for consumers switching between retailers and an associated compliance regime. The texts of both these recommendations, including details of the assessments completed under section 43N of the Act, are available by clicking on the links below:

Recommendation on Gas (Switching Arrangements) Rules 2007

Recommendation on Gas (Compliance) Regulations 2007

Under the Gas Act 1992 and its constitution, Gas Industry Co has an obligation to regularly provide reports to the Minister on the Performance and present state of the industry.

Allen Consulting Group (ACG) was engaged to prepare the first such report. The main focus of the ACG report is the facilitation of competitive outcomes and the industry's performance is assessed against this measure. The report also sets out ACG's views on the key priorities for the industry, especially in relation to further developing the systems and processes to facilitate competition at the wholesale and retail levels. The report concludes with a proposed set of indicators for measuring industry performance and makes recommendations about further reassessment in the future.

To view the report click here (PDF 1.247MB)

The Gas Industry Co Annual Report 2005/06 can be accessed here (PDF 2.739MB) or requested by emailing info@gasindustry.co.nz.

Stakeholder Newsletter. more >>

On 24 February, the Gas Industry Co released the 2006/07 Levy Discussion Paper.
 
The Gas Act 1992 provides for the Gas Industry Co to recover the costs of exercising its functions under the Act through levies on industry participants.  The levy is set on an annual basis and the Company has an obligation to consult with industry participants on the levy.

Submissions on the consultation document, and answers to specific questions raised, are due by 5 pm on 17 March.

For more information and to view a copy of the covering letter and the consultation document, click here.