New Zealand Gazette – 2004 – No. 139

Page 3466

✨ Gas Industry Governance Policy



3466

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 139

29 OCTOBER 2004

Government Policy Statement in Relation to Gas Industry Governance

To the Commerce Commission:

This statement is given to the Commerce Commission, pursuant to section 26 of the Commerce Act 1986, as a statement of the economic policy of the Government on the gas industry.

October 2004

GOVERNMENT POLICY STATEMENT ON GAS GOVERNANCE

Introduction

The gas sector has a critical role to play in achieving the Government’s objective of a sustainable and efficient energy future and higher economic growth rates.

This statement sets out the Government's policy for gas industry objectives, governance and rules relating to the wholesaling, processing, transmission, distribution and retailing of gas.

Other related documents are the Sustainable Development Programme of Action¹, the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy², the Climate Change Work Programme³ and the Government Policy Statement on Electricity Governance.

The Government's policies and procedures for gas exploration and development are set out in the Crown Minerals Act and the Minerals Programme for Petroleum. The Minerals Programme for Petroleum is currently being reviewed and will set out the Government's exploration and development policies moving forward.

The Government's gas safety regime is currently being progressed through an Energy Safe Review Bill. This Bill will set out obligations and enforcement provisions for safety of consumers and the public (including gas detection), gas quality, and measurement of gas supplied to consumers. Workplace safety is addressed through the “Health and Safety in Employment Act.”

This statement replaces the "Government Policy Statement: Development of New Zealand's Gas Industry" of March 2003.

Background

  1. In March 2003 the Government released its policy for the development of New Zealand's gas industry, and its expectations for industry action. The Government invited the gas industry to establish a governance structure and a work programme to deliver on those expectations. The Government Policy Statement (GPS) stated that the Government favoured industry-led solutions where possible, but is prepared to use regulatory solutions where necessary.

  2. The gas industry has advised the Government that it requires some form of regulatory backing to achieve the Government's objectives and outcomes for the gas sector.

  3. The Government, in co-operation with the industry, intends to implement a co-regulatory model of governance to ensure that the objectives of the Government are met.

Government's policy objective and outcomes for the gas industry

  1. The Government's overall policy objective for the gas industry is:

"To ensure that gas is delivered to existing and new customers in a safe, efficient, fair, reliable, and environmentally sustainable manner."

¹ http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/sus-dev/sus-dev-programme-of-action-jan03.html

² http://www.eeca.govt.nz/default2.asp

³ http://www.climatechange.govt.nz/sp/consultation/confirmed-policy.htm



Next Page →



Online Sources for this page:

VUW Te Waharoa — PDF NZ Gazette 2004, No 139


Gazette.govt.nz — PDF NZ Gazette 2004, No 139




✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🏛️ Government Policy Statement on Gas Industry Governance

🏛️ Governance & Central Administration
29 October 2004
Gas Industry, Governance, Policy Statement, Commerce Commission, Economic Policy