Part 1Preliminary

Chapter 1—Preliminary Part 1—Citation and interpretation 1—Citation This law may be cited as the National Gas Law. 2—Definitions (1) In this Law— ACCC means the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission established by section 6A of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth; access arrangement means an arrangement setting out terms and conditions about access to pipeline services provided or to be provided by means of a scheme pipeline; access determination means a determination of the relevant adjudicator for an access dispute under Chapter 5 Part 5 and includes a determination varied under Part 6 of that Chapter; access dispute means a dispute between a user or prospective user and a service provider about 1 or more aspects of access to a pipeline service provided by means of a pipeline and includes a matter that is deemed to be an access dispute under the Rules; adoptive jurisdiction means a participating jurisdiction for which AEMO is authorised to exercise its declared system functions or STTM functions; AEMC means the Australian Energy Market Commission established by section 5 of the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment Act 2004 of South Australia; AEMO amendments means— (a) the amendments to this Law made by the National Gas (South Australia) (National Gas Law—Australian Energy Market Operator) Amendment Act 2009; and (b) the amendments to the Rules made by the National Gas (South Australia) (National Gas Rules—Australian Energy Market Operator) Amendment Rules 2009; and (c) the Procedures first made under this Law after the enactment of the amendments referred to in paragraph (a); AER means the Australian Energy Regulator established by section 44AE of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth; AER Compliance Procedures and Guidelines has the meaning given by section 64F; AER economic regulatory decision means a decision (however described) of the AER under this Law or the Rules performing or exercising an AER economic regulatory function or power; AER economic regulatory function or power means a function or power performed or exercised by the AER under this Law or the Rules (other than making a rate of return instrument) that relates to the economic regulation of pipeline services provided by a service provider— (a) by means of; or (b) in connection with, a pipeline and includes a function or power performed or exercised by the AER under this Law or the Rules (other than making a rate of return instrument) that relates to— (c) the preparation of a service provider performance report; (d) a ring fencing decision; (e) an applicable access arrangement decision; (f) an access determination (if the AER is the dispute resolution body); The application of a rate of return instrument under this Law is an AER economic regulatory function or power. See section 30Q(2). AER gas price reporting functions means the functions of the AER performed under section 27(1)(fa); AER ring fencing determination means a determination of the AER under section 143(1); AER trial waiver functions means the functions conferred on the AER under Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1B; AER wholesale market monitoring functions—the AER wholesale market monitoring functions are set out in section 30AC(1); AER wholesale market reporting functions—the AER wholesale market reporting functions are set out in section 30AC(2); annual turnover has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth; applicable access arrangement means an access arrangement that has taken effect after being approved or made by the AER under the Rules and includes an applicable access arrangement as varied— (a) under the Rules; or (b) by an access determination as provided by this Law or the Rules; applicable access arrangement decision means a decision of the AER under the Rules that— (a) approves or does not approve an access arrangement or revisions to an applicable access arrangement submitted to the AER under section 113 or the Rules; or (b) makes an access arrangement— (i) in place of an access arrangement the AER does not approve in that decision; or (ii) because a scheme pipeline service provider does not submit an access arrangement in accordance with section 113 or the Rules; or (c) makes revisions to an access arrangement— (i) in place of revisions submitted to the AER under section 113 that the AER does not approve in that decision; or (ii) because a scheme pipeline service provider does not submit revisions to the AER under section 113; application Act means an Act of a participating jurisdiction that applies, as a law of that jurisdiction, this Law or any part of this Law; approved associate contract means an associate contract approved by the AER under an associate contract decision; associate in relation to a person has the same meaning it would have under Division 2 of Part 1.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth if sections 13, 16(2) and 17 did not form part of that Act; associate contract means— (a) a contract, arrangement or understanding between a service provider and an associate of the service provider in connection with the provision of an associate pipeline service; or (b) a contract, arrangement or understanding between a service provider and any person in connection with the provision of an associate pipeline service— (i) that provides a direct or indirect benefit to an associate; and (ii) that is not at arm's length; associate contract decision means a decision of the AER under the Rules that approves or does not approve an associate contract for the purposes of Chapter 4 Part 2 Division 4; associate pipeline service means a pipeline service provided by means of a pipeline other than a pipeline to which a greenfields incentive determination applies; Australian Energy Market Operator or AEMO means Australian Energy Market Operator Limited (ACN 072 010 327); bilateral trading agreement, for Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1AA—see section 30AA; BB Procedures means Procedures directed at regulating the Gas Bulletin Board; biogas means a gas derived or recovered from organic matter other than fossilised organic matter; biomethane means a substance— (a) that is in a gaseous state at standard temperature and pressure; and (b) the principal constituent of which is methane; and (c) that is produced by refining biogas; and (d) that is suitable for consumption; blend processing facility means a facility for 1, or more, of the following: (a) the blending of 1 or more primary gases, with or without other substances, for injection into a pipeline; (b) the separation of a gas blend withdrawn from a pipeline into constituent gases before re-injection into a pipeline as— (i) a primary gas; or (ii) a gas blend; blend processing service means a service provided by means of a blend processing facility; blend processing service provider means a person who owns, operates or controls a blend processing facility; Bulletin Board information means information that— (a) a person gives to AEMO or the AER to comply with Chapter 7 (or any Rules under that Chapter); or (b) a person gives to AEMO in its capacity as operator of the Gas Bulletin Board in circumstances expressly permitted by the Rules; capacity auction means an auction conducted by AEMO through which a person may buy transportation capacity; capacity auction agreement means an agreement that relates to participation in a capacity auction and to which AEMO and persons participating in the capacity auction are parties; capacity auction functions of AEMO are set out in section 91BRM(1); capacity auction information means information that–– (a) a person gives to AEMO, to comply with section 91FEE(1); or (b) a person gives, in circumstances expressly required or permitted by the Procedures or Rules— (i) to AEMO in its capacity as operator of a capacity auction in which the person participates; or (ii) to AEMO in its capacity as operator of a regulated gas market or a gas trading exchange if that information is to be used for the purpose of a capacity auction in which the person participates; capacity auction participant means a person (other than AEMO) who is, or who was at the relevant time, a party to a capacity auction agreement; Capacity Transfer and Auction Procedures means Procedures directed at the operation and administration of capacity auctions and transaction support arrangements; changeover date means— (a) a date fixed by or under legislation of a participating jurisdiction for AEMO's assumption of responsibility for the operation of a gas market in the relevant jurisdiction under this Law and the Rules; or (b) a date fixed by Ministerial Gazette notice as the changeover date; The changeover date may vary from gas market to gas market, from provision to provision and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In addition, AEMO's assumption of statutory functions in a particular participating jurisdiction may occur in stages on different changeover dates. charge, in relation to a pipeline service, means the amount that is payable by a user to a service provider for the provision of the pipeline service to that user; civil monetary liability means a liability for damages, compensation or any other monetary amount that can be recovered by way of civil proceedings but does not include a liability for a civil penalty or an infringement penalty under this Law or a liability for the costs of a proceeding; civil penalty—see section 3A; civil penalty provision has the meaning given by section 3; classification decision means a decision of the AER under Chapter 3 Part 6 Division 1; commission, in relation to a pipeline, has the meaning given by section 12; Commonwealth Minister means the Minister of the Commonwealth administering the Australian Energy Market Act 2004 of the Commonwealth; compression service facility means— (a) a designated compression service facility; or (b) any other facility or part of a facility (whether or not forming part of another facility or located on or connected to another facility) for compressing covered gas other than— (i) a facility operated as part of a gathering system operated as part of an upstream producing operation for processable gas; or (ii) anything downstream of a point on a pipeline from which a person takes covered gas for consumption purposes; compression service provider means a person who owns, controls or operates a compression service facility; conduct provision has the meaning given by section 4; constituent components, in relation to a designated regulatory decision, means the matters that constitute the elements or components of the designated regulatory decision and on which that designated regulatory decision is based and includes— (a) matters that go to the making of the designated regulatory decision; and (b) decisions made by the AER for the purposes of the designated regulatory decision; covered gas means the following: (a) a primary gas; (b) a gas blend; covered gas industry includes— (a) activities and transactions relating to the following: (i) processable gas; (ii) biogas; (iii) covered gas, including liquefied natural gas, and covered gas services; (iv) covered gas industry facilities; (v) services provided by means of covered gas industry facilities; and (b) activities and transactions relating to petroleum tenements; and (c) any other activity or transaction, or type of activity or transaction, specified by the Regulations for the purpose of this definition; covered gas industry facility means the following: (a) a blend processing facility; (b) a compression service facility; (c) a gas processing plant; (d) an LNG facility; (e) a pipeline; (f) a storage facility; (g) a user facility; (h) another facility of a type specified by the Regulations for the purpose of this definition; covered gas service means the following: (a) a pipeline service; (b) the supply of covered gas; (c) a service ancillary to the service described in paragraph (b); declared distribution system of an adoptive jurisdiction has the meaning given by the application Act of that jurisdiction; declared LNG storage provider of an adoptive jurisdiction has the meaning given by the application Act of that jurisdiction; declared system functions—AEMO's declared system functions are as set out in section 91BA(1); declared system provisions means— (a) Chapter 2 Part 6 Division 2; and (b) the Rules regulating the declared wholesale gas market of an adoptive jurisdiction or otherwise relevant to Chapter 2 Part 6 Division 2; declared transmission system of an adoptive jurisdiction has the meaning given by the application Act of that jurisdiction; declared wholesale gas market means the wholesale market for covered gas defined in the application Act of an adoptive jurisdiction; designated compression service facility means a facility or part of a facility for compressing covered gas prescribed by the Regulations as a designated compression service facility; designated pipeline means a pipeline classified by the Regulations, or designated in the application Act of a participating jurisdiction, as a designated pipeline and includes an extension to, or expansion of the capacity of, the pipeline that is taken to be part of the pipeline under section 18; A designated pipeline is a scheme pipeline. See the definition of scheme pipeline. designated regulatory decision means an applicable access arrangement decision (other than a decision that does not approve an access arrangement), or a decision prescribed by the Regulations to be a designated regulatory decision; developable capacity means the difference between the current capacity of a pipeline and the capacity of a pipeline which would be available if a new facility was constructed, but does not include any new capacity of a pipeline resulting from an extension to the geographic range of a pipeline; dispute resolution body means the AER; In Western Australia, under the National Gas Access (WA) Act 2009 of Western Australia, section 9, the dispute resolution body generally is the entity known as the Western Australian Energy Disputes Arbitrator. Dispute resolution panel means a person or panel of persons appointed under the Rules to hear and determine a rule dispute; distribution pipeline means a pipeline that— (a) is classified as a distribution pipeline under a licence or authorisation granted in relation to the pipeline under jurisdictional gas legislation; or (b) if the licence or authorisation mentioned in paragraph (a) does not include a classification of the pipeline—is classified by the AER as a distribution pipeline, and includes a pipeline that is reclassified by the AER as a distribution pipeline; See Chapter 3 Part 6 in relation to the classification and reclassification of pipelines. See also sections 18 and 19. distributor means, except where elsewhere defined in this Law, a service provider who owns, operates or controls a scheme pipeline that is a distribution pipeline; draft Rule determination means a determination of the AEMC under section 308; east coast gas system means the following, located wholly or partly within an east coast jurisdiction: (a) a covered gas industry facility; (b) a regulated gas market; (c) a gas trading exchange for which AEMO has established a gas trading exchange agreement; (d) a system, market or other thing specified by the Rules; east coast gas system direction, for Part 6 Division 1A—see section 91AF(1); East Coast Gas System Procedures, for Part 6 Division 1A—see section 91AD(1)(h); east coast gas system reliability and supply adequacy functions of AEMO are set out in section 91AD; east coast jurisdiction means a participating jurisdiction other than Western Australia; ECA amendments means the amendments to this Law made by the Statutes Amendment (Energy Consumers Australia) Act 2014 of South Australia; effective competition, for Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1AA—see section 30AB; end user means a person who acquires covered gas for consumption purposes, and includes a retail customer; Energy Consumers Australia or ECA means the company incorporated, or to be incorporated, by the name Energy Consumers Australia Limited; energy ombudsman has the same meaning as in the National Energy Retail Law; Energy Security Board means the Energy Security Board referred to in section 2(1) of the NEL; ERA means the Economic Regulation Authority established by section 4 of the Economic Regulation Authority Act 2003 of Western Australia; excluded infrastructure, in relation to a pipeline, means tanks, reservoirs, machinery, equipment or other infrastructure that forms part of the pipeline but is classified by the Rules as excluded infrastructure for the purposes of this Law; exempted participant means a person exempted from registration as a Registered participant; extension and expansion requirements means— (a) the requirements contained in an access arrangement that, in accordance with the Rules, specify— (i) the circumstances when an extension to a scheme pipeline is to be treated as forming part of the scheme pipeline; and (ii) whether the pipeline services provided or to be provided by means of, or in connection with, spare capacity arising out of an extension to a scheme pipeline will be subject to the applicable access arrangement applying to the pipeline services to which that arrangement applies; and (iii) whether an extension to, or expansion of the capacity of, a scheme pipeline will affect a reference tariff and, if so, the effect on the reference tariff; and (b) any other requirements specified by the Rules as extension and expansion requirements; See also sections 18 and 19. final Rule determination means a determination of the AEMC under section 311; financial risk management product, for Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1AA—see section 30AA; foreign company has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth; foreign source means— (a) a source beyond the outer limits of all of the following: (i) the adjacent area of this jurisdiction; (ii) the adjacent area of another participating jurisdiction; or (b) a source within the joint petroleum development area (within the meaning of the Petroleum (Timor Sea Treaty) Act 2003 of the Commonwealth); former gas market operator means any of the following: (a) VENCorp; (b) Gas Market Company Limited (ACN 095 400 258); (c) in relation to South Australia (but not Western Australia)—Retail Energy Market Company Limited (ACN 103 318 556); (d) the gas retail market operator appointed under section 257A of the Gas Supply Act 2003 (Qld); form of regulation factors has the meaning given by section 16; gas blend means primary gases that have been blended together; Gas Bulletin Board means the website maintained by AEMO that contains information of the kind specified in the Rules for the covered gas industry; Gas Code means the National Third Party Access Code for Natural Gas Pipeline Systems set out in Schedule 2 to the Gas Pipelines Access (South Australia) Act 1997 of South Australia as in force from time to time before the commencement of section 20 of the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008 of South Australia; gas contract, for Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1AA—see section 30AA; gas powered generator means the owner, controller or operator of a generating system, within the meaning of the National Electricity Rules, that is powered by covered gas; gas statement of opportunities means the statement published under Chapter 2 Part 6 Division 4; gas trading exchange means a facility through which persons may elect to buy and sell covered gas or related goods or services, including a pipeline capacity right; gas trading exchange agreement means an agreement that relates to participation in, and the operation and administration of, a gas trading exchange established by AEMO to which AEMO (or a person appointed by AEMO to operate the gas trading exchange), and a person who becomes a member of the exchange, are parties; gas trading exchange functions—AEMO's gas trading exchange functions are as set out in section 91BRK; gas trading exchange member means a person who is (or who was at the relevant time) a member of a gas trading exchange under a gas trading exchange agreement; general market information order means an order under section 91F(1)(a) requiring information from persons of a class specified in the order; general regulatory information order has the meaning given by section 45; greenfields incentive determination has the meaning given by section 100; greenfields pipeline project means a project for the construction of— (a) a pipeline that is to be structurally separate from any existing pipeline; or (b) a major extension to an existing pipeline; greenfields price protection determination has the meaning given by section 109; GSOO information means information that— (a) a person gives to AEMO to comply with section 91DB; or (b) a person gives to AEMO for the preparation of the gas statement of opportunities in circumstances expressly permitted by the Rules; GSOO Procedures means Procedures directed at regulating the collection of information for the gas statement of opportunities; GTE amendments means the amendments to this Law made by the National Gas (South Australia) (Gas Trading Exchanges) Amendment Act 2013; haulage, in relation to covered gas, includes conveyance or reticulation of covered gas; initial National Gas Procedures means National Gas Procedures made under section 294A and includes Wholesale Market Procedures and BB Procedures in force immediately before the commencement of the National Gas (South Australia) (National Gas Law—Australian Energy Market Operator) Amendment Act 2009; initial National Gas Rules means the Initial National Gas Rules made under Chapter 9 Part 2; initial Operational Transportation Service Code means the Operational Transportation Service Code made under section 294DA; innovative trial principles—see section 24A; jurisdictional gas legislation means an Act of a participating jurisdiction (other than national gas legislation), or any instrument made or issued under or for the purposes of that Act, that regulates the haulage of gas in that jurisdiction; jurisdictional regulator means— (a) for New South Wales—the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales established by section 5(1) of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992 of New South Wales; (b) for Victoria—the Essential Services Commission established by section 7(1) of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 of Victoria; (c) for Queensland—the Queensland Competition Authority established by section 7 of the Queensland Competition Authority Act 1997 of Queensland; (d) for South Australia—the Essential Services Commission established by section 4(1) of the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 of South Australia; (e) for Tasmania—the Director of Gas appointed under section 7 of the Gas Act 2000 of Tasmania; (f) for the Australian Capital Territory—the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission for the Australian Capital Territory established by section 5(1) of the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Act 1997 of the Australian Capital Territory; (g) any other person or body— (i) to which the functions of the jurisdictional regulator for a participating jurisdiction are assigned by or under an Act of the participating jurisdiction; or (ii) that is prescribed by the Regulations as jurisdictional regulator of a participating jurisdiction; listed corporation has the meaning given by section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth; LNG facility means a facility for the processing of natural gas from a gaseous to a liquefied state or from a liquefied to a gaseous state; LNG service provider means a person who owns, controls or operates an LNG facility; local regulation means the regulations under the application Act of a participating jurisdiction; market information instrument means a general market information order or a market information notice; market information notice means a notice under section 91F(1)(b) requiring information from the person to whom the notice is addressed; market operator service means a service classified under the Rules as a market operator service; MCE means the group of Ministers (constituting or forming part of a Ministerial Council, Standing Council of Ministers or similar body (however described)) responsible for energy matters at a national level comprising 9 Ministers as follows: (a) 1 Minister from the Commonwealth; (b) 1 Minister from each State (totalling 6 Ministers); (c) 1 Minister from each Territory (totalling 2 Ministers), acting in accordance with its own procedures; MCE directed review means a review conducted by the AEMC under Chapter 2 Part 2 Division 4; MCE statement of policy principles means a statement of policy principles issued by the MCE under section 25; minimum ring fencing requirement means a requirement under Chapter 4 Part 2 Division 2; Ministerial Gazette notice means a notice in the South Australian Government Gazette published by the South Australian Minister on the recommendation of the MCE; Minister of a participating jurisdiction means a Minister who is a Minister of a participating jurisdiction within the meaning of section 22; National Electricity Law means the National Electricity Law set out in the Schedule to the National Electricity (South Australia) Act 1996 of South Australia; National Electricity Rules has the same meaning as in the National Electricity Law; National Energy Retail Law means the National Energy Retail Law set out in the Schedule to the National Energy Retail Law (South Australia) Act 2011 of South Australia; National Energy Retail Rules has the same meaning as in the National Electricity Law; national gas legislation means— (a) the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008 of South Australia and Regulations in force under that Act; and (b) the National Gas (South Australia) Law; and (c) the National Gas Access (WA) Act 2009 of Western Australia; and (d) the National Gas Access (Western Australia) Law within the meaning given in the National Gas Access (WA) Act 2009 of Western Australia; and (e) Regulations made under the National Gas Access (WA) Act 2009 of Western Australia for the purposes of the National Gas Access (Western Australia) Law; and (f) an Act of a participating jurisdiction (other than South Australia or Western Australia) that applies, as a law of that jurisdiction, any part of— (i) the Regulations referred to in paragraph (a); or (ii) the National Gas Law set out in the Schedule to the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008 of South Australia; and (g) the National Gas Law set out in the Schedule to the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008 of South Australia as applied as a law of a participating jurisdiction (other than South Australia or Western Australia); and (h) the Regulations referred to in paragraph (a) as applied as a law of a participating jurisdiction (other than South Australia or Western Australia); national gas objective means the objective set out in section 23; National Gas Procedures or Procedures means— (a) the initial National Gas Procedures; and (b) Procedures made by AEMO under this Law, including Procedures that amend or revoke the initial National Gas Procedures or Procedures earlier made by AEMO; National Gas Rules or Rules means— (a) the initial National Gas Rules; and (ab) Rules made under Chapter 9 Part 2 Division 2; and (b) Rules made by the AEMC under this Law, including Rules that amend or revoke— (i) the initial National Gas Rules or Rules made under Chapter 9 Part 2 Division 2; or (ii) Rules made by it; natural gas means a substance that— (a) is in a gaseous state at standard temperature and pressure; and (b) consists of naturally occurring hydrocarbons, or a naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons, the principal constituent of which is methane; and (c) is suitable for consumption; new facility means an extension to, or expansion of the capacity of, a pipeline which is to be treated as part of the pipeline— (a) in accordance with the extension and expansion requirements contained in an applicable access arrangement applying to the pipeline services provided by means of that pipeline; or (b) under this Law; See also sections 18 and 19. non‑scheme pipeline means a pipeline other than a scheme pipeline; non‑scheme pipeline access dispute means an access dispute that involves a non‑scheme pipeline; offence provision means a provision of this Law the breach or contravention of which by a person exposes that person to a finding of guilt by a court; officer has the same meaning as officer has in relation to a corporation under section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth; old access law means Schedule 1 to the Gas Pipelines Access (South Australia) Act 1997 of South Australia as in force from time to time before the commencement of section 20 of the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008 of South Australia; old scheme classification or determination means a classification or determination under section 10 or 11 of the old access law in force at any time before the repeal of the old access law; old scheme distribution pipeline means a pipeline that was, at any time before the repeal of the old access law— (a) a distribution pipeline as defined in that law; and (b) a covered pipeline as defined in the Gas Code; old scheme transmission pipeline means a pipeline that was, at any time before the repeal of the old access law— (a) a transmission pipeline as defined in that law; and (b) a covered pipeline as defined in the Gas Code; operational transportation service means— (a) a transportation service that is provided under an operational transportation service agreement using transferred transportation capacity; and (b) a service ancillary to the provision of a service referred to in paragraph (a); operational transportation service agreement means an agreement between a transportation service provider and a transportation facility user that provides for— (a) the transportation facility user to receive a transfer of transportation capacity acquired through any of the following means— (i) a capacity auction; or (ii) a gas trading exchange; or (iii) any other means provided for in the agreement; and (b) the terms and conditions applicable to the use of that transportation capacity; Operational Transportation Service Code has the meaning given by section 228H; operative period, for a greenfields incentive determination, has the meaning given by section 102(2); participating jurisdiction means a jurisdiction that is a participating jurisdiction by reason of section 21; petroleum includes any naturally occurring hydrocarbon, mixture of hydrocarbons or mixture of hydrocarbons and non‑hydrocarbons, whether in gaseous, liquid or solid state; petroleum tenement means a right granted under law to explore for, extract, recover or process petroleum; pipeline means— (a) a pipe or system of pipes for the haulage of covered gas, and any tanks, reservoirs, machinery or equipment directly attached to that pipe or system of pipes; or (b) a proposed pipe or system of pipes for the haulage of covered gas, and any proposed tanks, reservoirs, machinery or equipment proposed to be directly attached to the proposed pipe or system of pipes; or (c) a part of a pipe or system of pipes or proposed pipe or system of pipes referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), but does not include— (d) unless paragraph (e) applies, anything upstream of a prescribed exit flange on a pipeline conveying covered gas from a prescribed gas processing plant; or (e) if a connection point upstream of an exit flange on such a pipeline is prescribed, anything upstream of that point; or (f) a gathering system operated as part of an upstream producing operation for processable gas; or (g) any tanks, reservoirs, machinery, plant, facility or equipment used to remove or add components to or change covered gas (other than odourisation facilities) such as a gas processing plant or blend processing facility; or (h) anything downstream of a point on a pipeline from which a person takes covered gas for consumption purposes; (i) in relation to a blend processing facility—anything from the point on a pipeline from which covered gas is taken for blend processing to the point where the gas blend is injected into the pipeline or another pipeline; See also sections 18 and 19. pipeline capacity right means a right under a contract with a service provider to be provided with a pipeline service, by means of a pipeline, for a given quantity of covered gas over a given period of time; pipeline classification criterion has the meaning given by section 13; pipeline interconnection principles has the meaning given by section 136; pipeline reliability standard means a standard imposed by or under an Act of a participating jurisdiction, or any instrument made or issued under or for the purposes of that Act, relating to the reliable haulage of covered gas in that jurisdiction; pipeline safety duty means a duty or requirement under an Act of a participating jurisdiction, or any instrument made or issued under or for the purposes of that Act, relating to— (a) the safe haulage of covered gas in that jurisdiction; or (b) the safe operation of a pipeline in that jurisdiction; pipeline service means— (a) a service provided by means of a pipeline, including— (i) a haulage service (such as firm haulage, interruptible haulage, spot haulage and backhaul); and (ii) a service providing for, or facilitating, the interconnection of pipelines; or (b) a service ancillary to the provision of a service referred to in paragraph (a), but does not include— (c) the production of a primary gas, a processable gas or biogas; or (d) the sale or purchase of a covered gas, a processable gas or biogas; or (e) a blend processing service; pipeline service standard means a standard relating to the standard of the pipeline services provided by a service provider imposed— (a) by or under jurisdictional gas legislation; or (b) by the AER— (i) under an access arrangement decision; or (ii) in accordance with the Rules; price information order has the meaning given by section 46A; primary gas means the following: (a) natural gas; (b) hydrogen; (c) biomethane; (d) synthetic methane; (e) a substance prescribed by the Regulations for the purpose of this definition; (f) a substance prescribed as a primary gas in a participating jurisdiction by a local regulation of the participating jurisdiction; prescribed transparency information has the meaning given by section 136C; processable gas means a substance that— (a) is in a gaseous state at standard temperature and pressure; and (b) consists of naturally occurring hydrocarbons, or a naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons, the principal constituent of which is methane; producer means a person who carries on a business of producing 1 or more primary gases; prospective user has the meaning given by section 5; protected information has the meaning given by section 91G; queuing requirements means terms and conditions providing for the priority that a prospective user has, as against any other prospective user, to obtain access to spare capacity and developable capacity; rate of return instrument—see section 30D(2); reclassification decision means a decision of the AER under Chapter 3 Part 6 Division 2; reference service means a pipeline service specified by, or determined or approved by the AER under, the Rules as a reference service; reference tariff means a tariff or charge for a reference service— (a) specified in an applicable access arrangement approved or made under an access arrangement decision; or (b) determined by applying the formula or methodology contained in an applicable access arrangement approved or made under an access arrangement decision; Registered participant means a person registered as such by AEMO under this Law (section 91BJ, section 91BRD or section 91LB) and the Rules, but does not include a transportation service provider registered under section 91BRR; regulated gas market means— (a) a declared wholesale gas market; or (ab) a short term trading market; or (b) a regulated retail gas market; regulated retail gas market has the meaning given by section 91L(2); Regulations means the regulations made under Part 3 of the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008 of South Australia that apply as a law of this jurisdiction; regulatory information instrument means— (a) a general regulatory information order; or (b) a regulatory information notice; or (c) a price information order; regulatory information notice has the meaning given by section 46; regulatory obligation or requirement has the meaning given by section 6; regulatory payment has the meaning given by section 7; relevant adjudicator means— (a) for a scheme pipeline access dispute—the dispute resolution body; or (b) for a non‑scheme pipeline access dispute—the arbitrator for the dispute; relevant agreement, for Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1AA—see section 30AA; relevant entity, for Part 6 Division 1A—see section 91AF(8); relevant Regulator has the same meaning as in section 2 of the old access law; REMCo means the Retail Energy Market Company Limited (ACN 103 318 556); retail customer means a person to whom covered gas is sold for premises by a retailer; retailer means a person who is the holder of a retailer authorisation issued under the National Energy Retail Law in respect of the sale of gas; retail gas market has the meaning given by section 91L(1); Retail Market Procedures means Procedures directed at regulating a retail gas market; revenue and pricing principles, in relation to a pipeline service provided by means of a scheme pipeline, means the principles set out in section 24; ring fencing decision means— (a) an AER ring fencing determination; or (b) a decision granting or not granting an exemption under Rules made under section 148A; or (c) an associate contract decision; rule dispute means a dispute for the resolution of which provision is made in the Rules; scheme pipeline means— (a) a pipeline to which a scheme pipeline determination applies; or (b) a designated pipeline; or (c) a pipeline in respect of which a scheme pipeline election takes effect; However, see section 99 in relation to when a pipeline the subject of a scheme pipeline revocation determination ceases to be a scheme pipeline. scheme pipeline access dispute means an access dispute that involves a scheme pipeline; scheme pipeline determination has the meaning given by section 92(1); scheme pipeline election has the meaning given by section 95; scheme pipeline revocation determination means a determination made under section 97(1); scheme pipeline service provider means a service provider who provides or intends to provide pipeline services by means of a scheme pipeline; service provider has the meaning given by section 8; service provider performance report means a report prepared by the AER under section 64; short term trading market means a market for the supply of covered gas that— (a) operates in an adoptive jurisdiction; and (b) is defined in a Rule made for the purposes of Chapter 2 Part 6 Division 2A to be a short term trading market of that adoptive jurisdiction; There may be more than 1 short term trading market of an adoptive jurisdiction. small shipper has the meaning given by section 8AB; South Australian Minister means the Minister of the Crown in right of South Australia administering Part 2 of the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008 of South Australia; spare capacity means unutilised capacity of a pipeline; standard gas day means the 24 hour period starting at the time specified in the standard market timetable; standard market timetable means the standard market timetable provided for in the Rules in accordance with section 83B; standard OTSA means an operational transportation service agreement within the meaning of section 228B as amended from time to time; statutory functions, in relation to AEMO, means functions or powers conferred under— (a) this Law, the Rules or the Procedures; or (b) the National Electricity Law or the National Electricity Rules; storage facility means a facility for storing processable gas, biogas or covered gas (including liquefied natural gas) before or after processing, blending or separating; storage provider means any person who owns, controls or operates a storage facility; STTM amendments means— (a) the amendments to this Law made by the National Gas (South Australia) (Short Term Trading Market) Amendment Act 2009 of South Australia; and (b) the amendments to the Rules made under section 294B; and (c) the STTM Procedures first made under this Law after the enactment of the amendments referred to in paragraph (a); STTM functions—AEMO's STTM functions are as set out in section 91BRB; STTM hub means a point or points, situated in an adoptive jurisdiction, specified in the Rules or STTM Procedures, at which a short term trading market operates; STTM information means information that— (a) a person gives to AEMO, to comply with section 91FEA(1); or (b) a person gives, in circumstances expressly required or permitted by the Procedures or Rules— (i) to AEMO in its capacity as operator of a short term trading market in which the person participates; (ii) to AEMO in its capacity as operator of another regulated gas market if that information is to be used for the purpose of a short term trading market in which the person participates; STTM Procedures means Procedures directed at regulating a short term trading market; STTM trading participant means a person referred to in section 91BRC; superseded jurisdictional rules means— (a) legislation (including subordinate legislation) of a participating jurisdiction regulating the gas industry in that jurisdiction that— (i) was in force immediately before the relevant changeover date; and (ii) is superseded by the AEMO amendments; and (b) rules to which a member of a corporate former gas market operator was subject, immediately before the relevant changeover date, under the constitution of the former gas market operator; and (c) a licence condition governing the activities of the licensee in, or in relation to, a regulated retail gas market in a participating jurisdiction— (i) in force immediately before the relevant changeover date; and (ii) superseded by the AEMO amendments; and (d) a guideline, code, standard or other instrument governing the operation or regulation of a gas market in a participating jurisdiction— (i) made or issued by the jurisdictional regulator; and (ii) in force immediately before the relevant changeover date; and (iii) superseded by the AEMO amendments; Examples— 1 The Gas Market Retail Rules (Vic) and the Gas Industry Market and System Operation Rules (Vic). 2 The Gas Retail Market Business Rules to Support Retail Competition in Gas (NSW). 3 The Gas Market Retail Rules (Qld). 4 The Retail Market Rules (SA). supply includes— (a) in relation to goods—supply (including re-supply) by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire purchase; and (b) in relation to services—provide, grant or confer; synthetic methane means a substance— (a) that is in a gaseous state at standard temperature and pressure; and (b) the principal constituent of which is methane; and (c) that is produced by the methanation of carbon dioxide; and (d) that is suitable for consumption; tariff means a rate by which a charge for a pipeline service is calculated; Territory means the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory; trader means a person who— (a) buys or sells covered gas; and (b) in doing so is not acting in some other registrable capacity; and (c) where the person is the purchaser of covered gas, is not buying the covered gas for the purchaser's own use; transaction support arrangements means arrangements to facilitate transactions with respect to transportation capacity and related goods and services concluded or to be concluded through a gas trading exchange or a capacity auction; transfer, in relation to transportation capacity, includes a reduction in a person's right to the transportation capacity and a corresponding increase in another person's right to transportation capacity, whether or not on the same terms and conditions; transmission pipeline means a pipeline that— (a) is classified as a transmission pipeline under a licence or authorisation granted in relation to the pipeline under jurisdictional gas legislation; or (b) if the licence or authorisation mentioned in paragraph (a) does not include a classification of the pipeline—is classified by the AER as a transmission pipeline, and includes a pipeline that is reclassified by the AER as a transmission pipeline; See Chapter 3 Part 6 in relation to the classification and reclassification of pipelines. See also sections 18 and 19. transportation capacity means a right under a contract with a transportation service provider to be provided with a transportation service by means of a transportation facility, for a given quantity of covered gas over a given period of time; transportation facility means— (a) a pipeline; or (b) a compression service facility; or (c) another facility of a type specified by the Regulations for the purposes of this paragraph; transportation facility user means a person who is a party to a contract with a transportation service provider under which the transportation service provider provides, or intends to provide, a transportation service to that person by means of a transportation facility and includes a user; transportation service means— (a) a pipeline service; or (b) a service provided by means of a compression service facility; or (c) a service provided by means of any other facility of a type specified by the Regulations for the purposes of paragraph (c) of the definition of transportation facility; transportation service provider means a person who owns, controls or operates a transportation facility; trial project means a project— (a) that— (i) the AER is satisfied is genuinely innovative taking into account the innovative trial principles (in relation to a trial waiver for a trial project); or (ii) the AEMC is satisfied is genuinely innovative taking into account the innovative trial principles (in relation to a trial Rule for the purposes of a trial project); and (b) tests an approach in relation to covered gas services; trial Rule—see section 290; trial waiver—see section 30W; Tribunal means the Australian Competition Tribunal referred to in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth and includes a member of the Tribunal or a Division of the Tribunal performing functions of the Tribunal; user means a person who— (a) is a party to a contract with a service provider under which the service provider provides or intends to provide a pipeline service to that person by means of a pipeline; or (b) has a right under an access determination to be provided with a pipeline service by means of a pipeline; user facility means a facility by means of which covered gas is consumed (including by transformation of the gas into a new form) and which is not any other form of covered gas industry facility; VENCorp means the Victorian Energy Networks Corporation continued under Part 8 of the Gas Industry Act 2001 of Victoria until the AEMO amendments come into force; wholesale gas market, for Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1AA—see section 30AA; wholesale gas market participant, for Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1AA—see section 30AA; wholesale market monitoring guidelines, for Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 1AA—see section 30AA; Wholesale Market Procedures means Procedures directed at regulating the declared wholesale gas market of an adoptive jurisdiction. (2) A reference in this Law to an end user includes a reference to a prospective end user. (3) A reference in this Law to the east coast gas system includes a reference to part of the east coast gas system. (4) The Minister responsible for the administration of an application Act under which a regulation is made for paragraph (f) of the definition of primary gas must publish notice of the making of the regulation in the South Australian Government Gazette. 2A—Additives and impurities The nature of a substance as a primary gas or a gas blend is not changed by the presence in the substance of the following: (a) an additive required for safety; (b) an impurity. 3—Meaning of civil penalty provision A civil penalty provision is— (a) a provision of this Law specified in an item in the Table at the foot of this section; or (b) a provision of this Law (other than an offence provision) or the Rules that is prescribed by the Regulations to be a civil penalty provision; or (c) a declared system provision that is prescribed by or under the application Act of the adoptive jurisdiction to be a civil penalty provision. Table Item 2A Section 91BE(1) 2B Section 91BF(1) 2C Section 91BJ(1) 2D Section 91BN(5) 2DA Section 91BRD(1) 2DB Section 91BRJ(5) 2DC Section 91FC(3) and (4) 2E 2F Section 91LB(1) 2G Section 91MB(6) Section 143(6) 3A—Civil penalty amounts for breaches of civil penalty provisions (1) Subject to this section, the civil penalty for a breach of a civil penalty provision is— (a) in the case of a breach of a civil penalty provision, other than a provision prescribed under paragraph (b) or (c)— (i) if the breach is by a natural person— (A) an amount not exceeding $33 900; plus (B) an amount not exceeding $3 390 for every day during which the breach continues; (ii) if the breach is by a body corporate— (A) an amount not exceeding $170 000; plus (B) an amount not exceeding $17 000 for every day during which the breach continues; or (b) in the case of a breach of a civil penalty provision prescribed by the Regulations for the purposes of this paragraph— (i) if the breach is by a natural person— (A) an amount not exceeding $287 000; plus (B) an amount not exceeding $14 400 for every day during which the breach continues; (ii) if the breach is by a body corporate— (A) an amount not exceeding $1 435 000; plus (B) an amount not exceeding $71 800 for every day during which the breach continues; or (c) in the case of a breach of a civil penalty provision prescribed by the Regulations for the purposes of this paragraph— (i) if the breach is by a natural person—an amount not exceeding $500 000; (ii) if the breach is by a body corporate—an amount not exceeding the greater of the following: (A) $10 000 000; (B) if the Court can determine the value of any benefit reasonably attributable to the breach of the civil penalty provision that the body corporate, and any body corporate related to the body corporate, has obtained, directly or indirectly—3 times the value of that benefit; (C) if the Court cannot determine the value of the benefit—10% of the annual turnover of the body corporate during the 12‑month period ending at the end of the month in which the body corporate breached, or began breaching, the civil penalty provision. See Schedule 2 clause 47A, which provides for the amounts specified in this subsection to be adjusted every 3 years to reflect movements in the consumer price index. The adjusted amounts are published on the AER's website. (2) Subsection (1)(c)(ii)(B) or (C) will only apply in a particular case if the AER, in applying for an order under section 231(2)(a), requests that those provisions be applied in that particular case. 4—Meaning of conduct provision A conduct provision is— (a) a provision of this Law specified in an item in the Table at the foot of this section; or (b) a provision of this Law (other than an offence provision) or the Rules that is prescribed by the Regulations to be a conduct provision; or (c) a declared system provision that is prescribed by or under the application Act of the adoptive jurisdiction to be a conduct provision. Table Item A1 A2 A3 5—Meaning of prospective user (1) A prospective user is a person who seeks or wishes to be provided with a pipeline service by means of a pipeline. (2) To avoid doubt, a user is also a prospective user if the user seeks or wishes to be provided with a pipeline service by means of a pipeline other than a pipeline service already provided to them under— (a) a contract; or (b) an access determination. 6—Meaning of regulatory obligation or requirement (1) A regulatory obligation or requirement is— (a) in relation to the provision of a pipeline service by a service provider— (i) a pipeline safety duty; or (ii) a pipeline reliability standard; or (iii) a pipeline service standard; or (b) an obligation or requirement under— (i) this Law or the Rules; or (ia) the National Energy Retail Law or the National Energy Retail Rules; or (ii) an Act of a participating jurisdiction, or any instrument made or issued under or for the purposes of that Act, that levies or imposes a tax or other levy that is payable by a service provider; or (iii) an Act of a participating jurisdiction, or any instrument made or issued under or for the purposes of that Act, that regulates the use of land in a participating jurisdiction by a service provider; or (iv) an Act of a participating jurisdiction or any instrument made or issued under or for the purposes of that Act that relates to the protection of the environment; or (v) an Act of a participating jurisdiction, or any instrument made or issued under or for the purposes of that Act (other than national gas legislation or an Act of a participating jurisdiction or an Act or instrument referred to in subparagraphs (ii) to (iv)), that materially affects the provision, by a service provider, of pipeline services to which an applicable access arrangement applies. (2) A regulatory obligation or requirement does not include an obligation or requirement to pay a fine, penalty or compensation— (a) for a breach of— (i) a pipeline safety duty; or (ii) a pipeline reliability standard; or (iii) a pipeline service standard; or (b) under this Law or the Rules, the National Energy Retail Law or the National Energy Retail Rules1 or an Act or an instrument referred to in subsection (1)(b)(ii) to (v). Notes—