Natural Gas

Natural gas is supplied to the ACT from the Cooper Basin in South Australia through the Moomba – Sydney Gas Transmission Network and from Sale in Victoria through the Eastern Gas Pipeline.

The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission  is responsible for licensing and regulation of gas transmission pipelines, gas distributors and gas retailers in the ACT.  As part of the National Energy Market Reform, from 1 July 2007, gas distribution economic regulatory functions will be transferred from ICRC to the new national regulatory bodies, namely the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).  The AEMC is enforcement and compliance.  Detailed information on the National electricity Reform is available on the Ministerial Council on Energy Website. 

The East Australia Pipeline Limited operates the lateral transmission pipeline from the Moomba – Sydney Pipeline to Canberra.

ActewAGL operates the lateral pipeline from the Eastern Gas Pipeline and distributes gas through the Canberra distribution system network to over 107,000 consumers. The Canberra distribution system is also extended to consumers in surrounding NSW.

There are currently two access arrangements under the Gas Pipeline Access Act 1998 operating in the ACT.

The ACT's gas retail market was opened to competition in January 2002. Customers now have the freedom to choose their gas suppliers. Before contestability was introduced, ActewAGL Retail supplied gas to all consumers within the ACT.  There are currently 5 licensed gas suppliers in the ACT.

The gas market in the ACT is operated by the Gas Market Company.

Natural gas transmission, distribution and supply are regulated under the Utilities Act 2000.