In accordance with section 56 (5) of the Commerce Act 1986, the Minister of Energy ("the Minister") has published the final report ("the report") of the Commerce Commission ("the Commission") on whether or not an Order in Council should be made under section 53 of the Commerce Act 1986, controlling 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.
The report is in response to a request from the Minister.
Copies of the report can be downloaded from the Minister's web site:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/hodgson
and the Ministry of Economic Development's web site:
http://www.med.govt.nz/ers/gas/control-inquiry/
For those without internet access, printed copies of the
report can be requested from the Ministry of Economic Development by telephone on (04) 474 2859 or by facsimile on (04) 473 7010.
The Minister invites written comments on any new matters raised in the report and any other relevant matters that have not been the subject of submissions to the Commission or are not reflected in the report.
In particular, the Minister would welcome comments on the Commission's remarks regarding applying to gas pipeline businesses a regime comparable to the targeted control regime applicable to electricity lines businesses under Part 4A of the Commerce Act 1986.
Comments must be received by 15 February 2005 at 12.00 midday.
Comments received will be published on the Ministry
of Economic Development's web site, and full versions (including any confidential information) of the submissions will be made available to the Commission in the course of assessing the submission should that prove desirable.
Comments on the report, including a public electronic version, should be sent to Gas Control Inquiry, Resources and Networks Branch, Ministry of Economic Development, P.O. Box 1473, Wellington, or by email to:
gascontrolinquiry@med.govt.nz