ATCO Gas Australia Pty Ltd (ATCO) operates the Mid-West and South-West Gas Distribution Systems (MWSW GDS). The MWSW GDS consists of natural gas distribution networks that service Geraldton, Bunbury, Busselton, Harvey, Pinjarra, Brunswick Junction, Capel and the Perth greater metropolitan area (including Mandurah).
The MWSW GDS is a regulated distribution network and requires an approved access arrangement. The current access arrangement for the GDS is valid until the next access arrangement is approved.
The process for gas access arrangement reviews has changed since the ERA’s last review of ATCO’s access arrangement for the GDS in 2019. There are now two key stages involved in the ERA’s decision making process for an access arrangement: (a) Reference Service Proposal and (b) Access Arrangement Proposal. Under the National Gas Rules, ATCO must submit a reference service proposal to the ERA 12 months before the access arrangement proposal.
On 1 September 2022, ATCO submitted a reference service proposal for the MWSW GDS. The ERA published ATCO’s proposal for consultation on 15 September 2022 and received two submissions. On 14 November 2022, the ERA decided to approve the reference services set out in ATCO’s reference service proposal.
On 1 September 2023, ATCO submitted its access arrangement proposal for the sixth access arrangement period (AA6): 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029. The ERA published an issues paper on 24 October 2023 to assist interested parties to make submissions on ATCO’s proposal. The ERA received 12 submissions, which were considered as part of the ERA’s draft decision process.
The ERA published its draft decision on 24 April 2024. ATCO has until 10 June 2024 to submit a revised access arrangement proposal. Interested parties have until 9 July 2024 to make submissions on the ERA’s draft decision and ATCO’s revised proposal. The ERA expects to publish its final decision on ATCO’s sixth access arrangement by November 2024.
Further information about the access arrangement framework and decision making process can be found in the ERA’s
gas access arrangement guideline.
Draft Decision
Public Submissions received in response to Issues Paper
Issues Paper
