We are remaking the code to make obligations fit for purpose, align the code with recent changes to the National Gas Rules, and to support other regulatory developments.
Reviewing the Gas Distribution System Code of Practice
-
Issues Paper published21 March 2023
-
Consultation closed4 May 2023
-
Draft decision15 November 2023
-
Consultation closed21 December 2023
-
Final decisionMay 2024
Overview
Remaking the Gas Distribution System Code of Practice
The purpose of this review is to remake the Gas Distribution System Code of Practice to:
- allow effective compliance monitoring and enforcement
- align the code with the national regulatory framework and remove duplication and inconsistencies, and
- update the code to account for regulatory developments and the Victorian Government’s Gas Substitution Roadmap.
The Gas Distribution System Code of Practice
The Gas Distribution System Code of Practice sets out consumer protections and obligations gas distributors must follow in operating distribution systems in Victoria. It regulates:
- the operation of the distribution system
- connections and augmentation
- curtailment, disconnection and reconnection
- metering requirements
- life support equipment
- deemed distribution contract requirements
- customer complaint handling.
The Essential Services Commission (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Amendment Act 2021 has reformed the enforcement framework that the commission operates under. As a result, our existing energy codes have transitioned to ‘codes of practice’. This means they are now subordinate legislative instruments and will only apply as a condition of licences or exemptions.
Draft decision
On 15 November 2023, we released our draft decision on the Gas Distribution System Code of Practice review. Our draft decision and the draft Gas Distribution Code of Practice can be found in the Resources tab (at the top of this page).
Stakeholders were able to in the form of written submissions or through responding to survey questions via Engage Victoria or by making general comments over email, mail or phone.
Our consultation process closed on Thursday 21 December 2023.
We received a total of 136 submissions, including 126 responses to the survey on Engage Victoria.
Consultation summaries
A summary of stakeholder submissions received to our issues paper and draft decision.
Stakeholder information session
We held an online information session on Thursday 20 April 2023.
Issues paper
We released an Issues Paper on 21 March 2023 to seek stakeholder feedback on key issues in this review.
Stakeholders were able to provide their feedback in the form of written submissions or through responding to survey questions via Engage Victoria.
Consultation ran from 21 March to 4 May 2023.
20 stakeholders responded to our issues paper, including 5 responses to the survey on Engage Victoria.