24Minister may declare access scheme for renewable energy zone or access area

24 Minister may declare access scheme for renewable energy zone or access area

24 Minister may declare access scheme for renewable energy zone or access area

(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, declare the access scheme that applies—

(a) in a renewable energy zone or part of a renewable energy zone, or

(b) in an access area or part of an access area.

(2) An access scheme is a scheme that—

(a) for an access scheme under subsection (1)(a)—authorises or prohibits access to, and use of, specified network infrastructure by network operators and operators of generation and storage infrastructure in the renewable energy zone, or the part of the renewable energy zone, to which the scheme applies, or

(b) for an access scheme under subsection (1)(b)—authorises or prohibits access to, and use of, specified network infrastructure by network operators and operators of generation and storage infrastructure in the access area, or the part of the access area, to which the scheme applies.

(3) An access scheme must be consistent with the objects of this Act.

(4) There may be more than one access scheme for a renewable energy zone or an access area.

(5) A declaration may also specify the following matters in relation to the access scheme—

(a) the person or body who is to administer the access scheme,

(b) how access rights are to be conferred on participants, which may include contractual arrangements between participants and the infrastructure planner, the scheme financial vehicle or another person,

(c) the terms and conditions of access rights,

(d) the functions of the regulator in relation to the access scheme,

(e) the rights and liabilities of the scheme financial vehicle in relation to the access scheme,

(f) other matters prescribed by the regulations.

(6) Before making a declaration, the Minister must—

(a) consult with the infrastructure planner and relevant operators who may be affected by the declaration, and