Clean Energy Vehicles: Networks role in new approach

ENA has proposed a high level Electric Vehicle Working Group to be formed to develop an industry statement on electric vehicles

Clean Energy Vehicles are certainly in the spotlight at the moment and ENA has recognised the need to participate in this national debate.

At the recent AMC Strategic Review Workshop, AMC decided that electric and gas vehicles would be a High Level Strategic Issue in which AMC would take a leading role.

At the last meeting of the Council of Australian Federation (CAF) the potential need for the development of National standards for Electric vehicles was discussed. As a result the Victorian State government has been charged to manage the process on behalf of CAF. Read more

National Framework for Natural Gas Customer Connections

A meeting was held at the ENA offices in Canberra on 27 May with members of the Network Policy Working Group (NPWG), comprising of Commonwealth, New South Wales and Queensland government officials. The meeting was to exchange views on the salient features of the gas market that require consideration in the formulation of the National Gas Customer Connections Framework.

The gas connection framework will address how retail customers are connected to the distribution network.  The framework will cover:

• Standard and negotiated connection processes;
• The customer-retailer-distribution relationship;
• Connection timeframes;
• Contract arrangements, terms and conditions;
• Capital contributions; and
• Retail customer dispute resolution.

The NPWG advised that the connection framework will be implemented in two parts.  Part A comprises components that are essential for integration with the National Energy Customer Framework (NECF) and will be implemented with the NECF package.  These components include: standard connection processes, definition of a standard connection, and terms and conditions for connection of small customers.  Part B comprises components not essential for integration with the NECF and will be implemented later.

NPWG officials stated that a primary driver of the gas connection framework was harmonisation across jurisdictions and with the electricity framework. Other objectives were to streamline the connection process where possible while providing a user friendly framework for negotiation between users and distributors and to achieve a greater penetration of the use of natural gas as a clean energy source.

Matters raised at the meeting included:

• The risk of cost recovery and the related matter of underwriting subsidies to consumers  for connection (The NPWG indicated that connection services should be provided to customers on a “proper economic basis”);
• Placing an obligation to connect on distributors (The NPWG supports this);
• The issue of standard versus negotiated contracts
• The need to establish agreed definitions; and
• The requirement for further work on “energisation”and “de-energisation” of connections.

Overall, ENA’s message was that the connection framework should not increase the cost of delivering gas to customers, an outcome detrimental to gas demand.

As to the way forward, the NPWG is looking to having the gas connection framework ready for inclusion in the 2nd exposure draft of the NECF which it is proposing to release in November 2009.  The ENA indicated that it sees value in a third exposure draft which includes the detailed changes to both the national and jurisdictional legislative packages.  The NPWG agreed to ENA setting up a Reference Group (to be based on the ENA Gas Committee) to assist with the development of the gas connection framework.

Gas Committee

The purpose of the ENA Gas Committee (GC) is to develop gas network related policy recommendations and advice for ENA.

It serves as the principal working-level forum for issues relating to the gas networks asset management issues such as but not limited to technical regulation, market development, utilisation, and safety.

The committee has developed four priorities:

• Network and consumer safety and reliability
• Technical regulations and standards
• Gas market development
• Gas industry knowledge and skills.

ENA DOC 020 – 2007 National Gas Supply Industry Passport

These Guidelines and Administrative Principles were prepared by the Energy Networks Association (ENA).

The aim of this guideline is to promote recognition of qualifications, competencies, authorisations, refresher training and work skills across jurisdictional boundaries. It will also provide greater opportunity for gas workers and flexibility for the Network Operators, by facilitating national consistency and mobility of personnel across boundaries within the Gas Supply Industry (GSI).

These guidelines and administrative principles support the targeted outcomes of the COAG Skills Taskforce formed in 2005, which is operating under the auspices of the Australian Government Department of Education, Science & Training (DEST).

ENA will monitor the use and impact of the Guidelines and Administrative Principles and subsequently may seek to review and make amendments as may be appropriate from time to time. Comments are welcome and can be sent to the Association as follows: The CEO, Energy Networks Association, Level 3, 40 Blackall Street, Barton ACT 2600.

ENA DOC 020 – 2007 National Gas Supply Industry Passport