final consultant’s report due by 30 September 2013. Appropriate appeals Welcome the Final Report from the N/A N/A N/A Completed - included Relevant to WA (as mechanism Expert Panel Review of the Limited in it relates to gas SCER’s – “Putting Merits Review Regime, including its Consumers pipeline access) First” Ensuring that the appeal assessment of the shortcomings of the document. and the NT framework supports regime to date in delivering the original outcomes consistent with policy intent and the proposals Panel’s the long term interests of for improvement. consumers with respect to price, quality, safety, Note that the Expert Panel has called N/A N/A N/A Completed as above. Relevant to WA (as reliability and security of for clearer articulation of the policy it relates to gas supply and the system intent of merits review through pipeline access) clarifications in the Law and setting out and the NT functions and responsibilities of the review body and the AER; changes to establishing grounds for appeal (a “materially preferable decision” criteria); clearer links to consumer objectives; a more investigative (less adversarial) approach to appeals; and the establishment of a new review body, the Australian Energy Appeals Authority (AEAA), which would be independent of but hosted by the AEMC, and funded by industry fees. 3.1) Prepare and release a Regulatory Publish consultation SCO December Completed Relevant to WA (as – Impact Statement (RIS) by December RIS 2012 Consultation RIS was it relates to gas 2012, which would seek to assess the published on 14 pipeline access) costs and benefits of the Expert December 2012. and the NT Panel’s
consultant’s final report due by 30 September 2013. Appropriate appeals mechanism Ensuring that the appeal framework supports outcomes consistent with the long term interests of consumers with respect to price, quality, safety, reliability and security of supply and the system Welcome the Final Report from the Expert Panel Review of the Limited Merits Review Regime, including its assessment of the shortcomings of the regime to date in delivering the original policy intent and the Panel’s proposals for improvement. N/A N/A N/A Completed - included in SCER’s – “Putting Consumers First” document. Relevant to WA (as it relates to gas pipeline access) and the NT Note that the Expert Panel has called for clearer articulation of the policy intent of merits review through clarifications in the Law and setting out functions and responsibilities of the review body and the AER; changes to establishing grounds for appeal (a “materially preferable decision” criteria); clearer links to consumer objectives; a more investigative (less adversarial) approach to appeals; and the establishment of a new review body, the Australian Energy Appeals Authority (AEAA), which would be independent of but hosted by the AEMC, and funded by industry fees. N/A N/A N/A Completed as above. Relevant to WA (as it relates to gas pipeline access) and the NT 3.1) Prepare and release a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) by December 2012, which would seek to assess the costs and benefits of the Expert Panel’s Publish consultation RIS SCO December 2012 Completed – Consultation RIS was published on 14 December 2012. Relevant to WA (as it relates to gas pipeline access) and the NT
Progress-Report-Mid-2013.docx