For Western Australia’s regulated gas pipelines, the ERA determines an allowed rate of return on service providers’ projected capital bases as part of setting regulated revenues for an access arrangement.
The National Gas Law requires the ERA to produce a gas rate of return instrument setting out how the ERA and regulated entities will calculate the rate of return for the duration of the instrument.
The ERA published a gas rate of return instrument on 16 December 2022.
The ERA is required to review the gas instrument and replace it every four years. The review of the 2026 gas rate of return instrument has now commenced.
Discussion paper
On 23 October 2025, the ERA published a discussion paper outlining its working views on the method for calculating the allowed rate of return on capital for service providers for the 2026 gas instrument.
The ERA is seeking stakeholder feedback on this gas instrument discussion paper and asks questions of stakeholders.
Engagement process paper
On 3 October 2025, the ERA published an engagement process paper detailing its planned approach to fulfilling the consultation requirements for producing the 2026 gas instrument.
The ERA is seeking stakeholder nominations of potential members for a Consumer Reference Group and an Independent Panel. Further detail on these bodies is provided in the engagement process paper.