Enabling Legislation
The Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) was established on 1 January 2004 as a body corporate with perpetual succession under section 4 of the Economic Regulation Authority Act 2003 . Other relevant legislation includes the Economic Regulation Authority (Gas Pipelines Access Funding) Regulations 2003 and the Economic Regulation Authority (Transitional) Regulations 2003 .
Legislation Administered
The ERA has a number of powers, responsibilities and obligations derived from certain Acts of Parliament, Regulations that arise from those Acts and other subsidiary legislation such as Codes and Rules.
The following table lists the legislation directly relevant to the ERA’s regulatory role:
| Regulated Utility |
Relevant Legislation |
| Gas |
- Energy Coordination Act 1994
|
- National Gas Access (WA) Act 2009
|
- Energy Coordination Regulations 2004
|
- Energy Coordination (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2004
|
- Energy Coordination (Last Resort Supply) Regulations 2005
|
- Energy Coordination (Licensing Fees) Regulations 2005
|
- Energy Coordination (Retail Market Schemes)Regulations 2004
|
- The National Gas Access (WA)(Part 3) Regulations 2009
|
- The National Gas Access (WA)(Local Provisions) Regulations 2009
|
|
| Electricity |
- Electricity Industry Act 2004
|
- Electricity Industry (Code of Conduct) Regulations 2005
|
- Electricity Industry (Customer Contracts) Regulations 2005
|
- Electricity Industry (Licence Conditions) Regulations 2005
|
- Electricity Industry (Access Code Enforcement) Regulations 2005
|
- Electricity Industry (Licensing Fees) Regulations 2005
|
- Electricity Industry (Obligation To Connect) Regulations 2005
|
- Electricity Industry (Wholesale Electricity Market) Regulations 2004
|
- Electricity Industry (Network Quality and Reliability of Supply) Code 2005
|
- Code of Conduct (For the Supply of Electricity to Small Use Customers)
|
- Electricity Industry Customer Transfer Code 2004
|
- Electricity Networks Access Code 2004
|
- Electricity Industry Metering Code 2005
|
| Water |
- Water Services Licensing Act 1995
|
- Water Services Coordination Regulations 1996
|
| Rail |
- Railways (Access) Act 1998
|
- Railways (Access) Code 2000
|
Other Legislation impacting on the ERA
Other legislation that impacts on the ERA in the performance of its functions include the: - Corruption and Crime Commission Act 2003;
- Disability Services Act 1993;
- Energy Arbitration and Review Act 1998;
- Equal Opportunity Act 1984;
- Financial Management Act 2006;
- Freedom of Information Act 1992 (does not apply to the ERA’s regulatory function relating to access to gas pipelines and rail systems);
- Industrial Relations Act 1979;
- Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984;
- Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003;
- Public Sector Management Act 1994;
- State Records Act 2000 ; and
- Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981.
