Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008

Date Published: Thu, 29/01/2009 - 15:45 Author: Tristan Meo

The purpose of the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules is to establish a set of uniform processes that will enable the fair, efficient, and reliable downstream allocation and reconciliation of downstream gas quantities. The Rules are available by clicking on this link: Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules (in force from 2 October 2009).

Framework of the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008 

The Rules were gazetted by the Minister of Energy on 29 May 2008 and came into full force on 1 October 2008. The Rules provide for:

  • The appointment of an allocation agent;

  • Processes for the:

    • provision of gas injection and consumption information;
    • allocation by the allocation agent of daily gas quantities for each calendar month to retailers at gas gates;
    • reconciliation of downstream gas quantities; 

  • Mandatory information disclosure and reporting by the allocation agent, allocation participants, and the industry body; and

  • Ancillary matters related to the process of allocation and reconciliation such as funding by industry participants, exemptions, approval and registration of deemed profiles for gas consumption information, and the performance of audits.

Data on monthly allocation results may be downloaded from the allocation agent website.


Minor amendments to the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008

On 31 July 2009, Gas Industry Co recommended to the Minister a number of minor technical rule changes to enhance the operation and efficiency of the allocation and reconciliation of downstream gas quantities. The amendments sought to enhance the operation of the Rules and, in some instances, reduce the need for exemptions. The rule amendments were gazetted by the Minister on 3 September 2009 and came into force on 2 October 2009.

Copies of the amended Rules (in clean and track change formats) and the Rules that applied prior to 2 October 2009 are available by clicking on the links below:

 

Allocation Agent

The allocation agent (NZX Limited) was appointed by Gas Industry Co on 10 June 2009. This appointment follows NZX's purchase of the previous allocation agent's (Marketplace Company Limited) energy business and assets and the assignment of the relevant rights and obligations to NZX.

Rule 8 of the Rules requires that Gas Industry Co publish the allocation agent service provider agreement. Accordingly, a copy of the service provider agreement (and the deed of novation) are available by clicking on the links below.

Please note the functional specification (the Schedule to the deed of novation) may be subject to change via the change request process.

The allocation agent website can be found at http://www.gasreconciliation.co.nz

 

Register of proposed changes to the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008

Changes will be required to the Rules from time to time and for a variety of reasons – including changes in market circumstances, the need to correct aspects that are not operating as intended, and to reflect changes in policy. Gas Industry Co has developed guidelines for managing proposed rule changes:

Guidelines for the management of proposed changes to gas governance rules and regulations

 

The guidelines provide for a register of proposed rule changes to be maintained on the Gas Industry Co website for each set of rules. The register for proposed changes to the Rules can be viewed at the link below.

Register of Proposed Changes to the Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008

 

This register contains rule changes that have been proposed to date and their current status. Gas Industry Co will continue to update the register with other rule changes that are proposed by participants in due course.

Phase: 
Market Administration