Gas Supply Act 2003

The Gas Supply Act 2003, which commenced on 1 July 2003, is based largely on Council of Australian Governments gas and competition agreements.

The Act has achieved the following reforms:

• Repealed the business regulation powers of the Gas Act 1965 and, in doing so, repealed the fuel gas franchises granted under that Act
• Introduced a gas business licensing regime for distributors and retailers of reticulated fuel gas (natural gas and LPG)
• Allowed the Queensland Government to regulate some commercial operations of the reticulated fuel gas retail market in the public interest, including retail prices for non-contestable customers
• Gave small gas customers access to dispute resolution services administered by the Energy Ombudsman Queensland (EOQ)
• Gave the Queensland Government new gas shortage contingency planning powers.

In June 2009, the Gas Supply Act 2003 was amended to remove the regulatory framework for the gas retail market operator. The regulatory framework was transferred to the National Gas Law and its associated Rules and Procedures as part of the implementation of the Australian Energy Market Operator from 1 July 2009.

Reform of gas franchises

The Gas Supply Act 2003 replaces the monopoly gas franchises under former legislation with a new licensing regime for the distribution and retail of reticulated fuel gas (natural gas and LPG).

A company distributing fuel gas (i.e. transporting and supplying it through a pipeline or reticulation system) will generally require a distribution authority. A company retailing reticulated retail gas (i.e. selling fuel gas, supplied via a pipeline system, to customers) will generally require a retail authority.

Distribution and retail authorities are issued by the Regulator (the Director-General of the Department of Mines and Energy) following the processes set out in the Gas Supply Act 2003. Further information on the authorities and associated processes is available on the licensing page.

Dispute Resolution Services

The Gas Supply Act 2003 gives small reticulated fuel gas customers (i.e. customers who consume less than 1 terajoule of gas per annum) full access to free dispute resolution services offered by the Energy Ombudsman Queensland (EOQ).

For further information, visit EOQ's website.

Contact

Licensing Issues

Principal Policy Officer
Regulation and Legislation Branch
Department of Mines and Energy
Telephone: (07) 3239 0046
Fax: (07) 3237 1344

Dispute Resolution

Energy Ombudsman Queensland
Telephone: 1800 662 837
Fax: (07) 3227 7068
Email: info@eoq.com.au
Web Site: www.eoq.com.au