Date Published: 16 March 2010
The Gas Governance (Compliance) Regulations 2008 (the Compliance Regulations) were published in the New Zealand Gazette by the Minister of Energy on 14 August 2008 and came into effect on 11 September 2008. The purpose of the Compliance Regulations is to provide for the monitoring and enforcement of the following rules: Gas (Switching Arrangements) Rules 2008; Gas (Processing Facilities Information Disclosure) Rules 2008; Gas (Downstream Reconciliation) Rules 2008; and Gas Governance (Critical Contingency Management) Regulations 2008 (collectively, the 'Rules').
A situation arose where there was a lack of clarity regarding process once a matter has been referred to the Rulings Panel for determination. The Rulings Panel proposed a minor amendment to its summary of procedures in response. The proposed addition to the Rulings Panel summary of procedures will insert a new paragraph 7 to read:
"Once the Rulings Panel has decided to determine an alleged breach under regulation 36(c) or the Investigator refers an alleged breach to the Rulings Panel under regulation 37, the procedures listed below apply in determining the alleged breach. If exceptional circumstances arise in relation to an alleged breach that suggest a hearing should not go ahead or should be deferred, such circumstances must be brought to the attention of the Rulings Panel, with full details of the circumstances. The Rulings Panel may then, at its sole discretion as permitted by legislation, amend its processes in respect of that alleged breach."
Submissions closed Wednesday, 7 April 2010.