24Changing the length of a regulatory period

24 Changing the length of a regulatory period

(1) The ACCC may set a new length, not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years, for: (a) a specified future regulatory period of a Part 6 operator (by changing the end date of the specified future regulatory period); or (b) all the regulatory periods following a specified future regulatory period of a Part 6 operator; if: (c) it has consulted the operator or received a request from the operator under subrule (2); and (d) it is satisfied that the change is appropriate in the circumstances. (2) If: (a) a Part 6 operator is also a supplier of urban water services or infrastructure services in relation to non‑Basin water resources, the charges for which are determined by an agency of a State under a law of the State; and (b) the charges are determined in respect of periods (the agency periods) that are not aligned with the regulatory periods of the operator; and (c) the operator requests the ACCC to approve changes to its future regulatory periods in accordance with subrule (1) in order to align the future regulatory periods with the agency periods; the ACCC must consider whether the changes requested are appropriate in the circumstances. (3) Subrule (1) does not apply in relation to a regulatory period for which a draft determination or approval has been published under rule 28. (4) If a period length approved under this rule is not a whole number of years, the remainder after all the whole years are completed is treated as a year for the purposes of this Division and Divisions 3 and 4.