IPART's role in regulating the gas market in NSW includes the following:

Safety net or default retail prices for low usage customers

The Tribunal sets default prices for households and business customers who use less than 1 terajoule of gas per year and have not entered into a negotiated contract.

With the introduction of full retail contestability on 1 January 2002 all customers have been able to choose their gas retailer and negotiate alternative supply arrangements (including price). However, customers are able to remain on or return to their standard supplier on prices regulated by the Tribunal.

Information on current regulated prices and the Tribunal’s work in this area is available from the Retail Pricing section.

Administration of the licences for distribution and retail service providers

The Tribunal administers the gas licensing regime on behalf of the Minister. This involves:

• granting, varying, transferring and cancelling authorisations and related conditions
• taking action when the conditions of an authorisation are contravened.

Further information on the Tribunal’s role and work in this area is available from the Licensing section.

Approval of arrangements proposed by distributors for access to their distribution networks

The Tribunal is currently responsible for reviewing access arrangements for regulated gas networks in NSW and for approving annual distribution tariff variations. The Tribunal also reviews certain contracts between network service providers and associate companies and oversees ring fencing arrangements.

The Tribunal’s role in regulating gas networks will shortly be transferred to the Australian Energy Regulator, under a new national framework.

Information and documents related to the Tribunal’s work in this area are available from the Network Access section or from the Gas Code Registrar.

Other activities

From time to time the Tribunal undertakes reviews related to gas in NSW.  Examples of recent work include:

• approval of the manner in which AGL Gas Networks uses its gas customer reserve account
• section 9 review of guaranteed customer service standards for gas and electricity.

Information on these activities is available here.

Definitions

Retail Pricing: these are pricing issues associated with the retail gas bills that customers receive. Note: Retail pricing only applies to customers who have not entered a 'market based contract' with their retailer.

Network Access: this relates to pricing and other terms and conditions associated with the provision of Gas Network Services including the infrastructure used to deliver gas to customers. Network Access also includes information on contracts between Network Service Providers and companies associated with the use of Gas Networks.