By letter dated 30 April 2003, the Minister of Energy ("Minister") requested the Commerce Commission ("Commission") to undertake a Gas Control Inquiry ("the inquiry") into whether or not control should be introduced
in relation to the goods and services supplied by persons in markets directly related to either a natural gas transmission system or a natural gas distribution system or both (gas services).
The Minister's request specified that the Commission must deliver its findings by 1 November 2004.
The Commission will be seeking parties' views.
The Commission invites interested parties to present their views first on the Commission's proposed framework and, secondly, on the application of that framework.
As part of the first stage of the inquiry, the Commission released the draft framework paper on 16 July 2003.
The Commission invites interested parties and industry participants to make written submissions on the draft framework paper by 15 August 2003.
Following the submission period, the Commission plans to
hold a conference on the draft framework paper between
1 September 2003 and 5 September 2003.
As part of the second stage of the inquiry, the Commission will release a draft report setting out the findings of the inquiry.
There will be a submission period and conference on the draft report following its release.
The Commission invites interested parties to give their views on the draft report.
At this stage, the Commission anticipates the due date for written submissions to be 30 April 2004 with the conference planned for the week commencing 31 May 2004.
Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Commission's web site:
www.comcom.govt.nz
or by contacting the Commission.
Submissions or comments on the inquiry may be sent to
Gas Pipelines Inquiry, Commerce Commission, P.O. Box 2351, Wellington, or by facsimile (04) 924 3700 or email to:
gaspipelinesinquiry@comcom.govt.nz
Submission requirements are:
? 25 hard copies should be supplied. Submitters need only staple in the top left corner, as spiral or spine bound copies will be unbound for ease of producing additional copies if required;
? in addition to hard copies, electronic copies of submissions should ideally be sent in .pdf format, although Word is equally acceptable. Written or
non PC-generated submissions will be scanned by Commission staff and automatically converted to .pdf;
? all submissions will be published on the Commission's web site (the Commission recognises that there will be instances where information may genuinely be confidential. The Commission requires parties where at all possible to provide a "public version" of confidential material, which at least conveys the thrust of the material (or argument) without disclosing sensitive information. This public version should
be given to the Commission when an application for confidentiality of that information is sought); and
? submissions must show the organisation's name
and address, date and be duly signed. In the case
of personal submissions, a contact address and telephone number is required, and the submission is
to be signed with the submitter's name printed beneath the signature. Personal submissions will have their contact address and telephone number removed for the purpose of publishing on the Commission's web site, as only their name will be disclosed.
Hard copies of submissions should be mailed to:
Gas Pipelines Inquiry
Commerce Commission
P.O. Box 2351
Wellington.
Electronic copies to:
gaspipelinesinquiry@comcom.govt.nz