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The process to change REMCo’s Retail Market Rules (the "Rules") is a consultative and inclusive process designed to ensure that any change to the REMCo Scheme (including the Rules, the REMCo Specification Pack, or the FRC Hub Conditions) is developed and implemented in a controlled and agreed fashion.
A number of Rule changes have been made since the Rules commenced operation in Western Australia on 31 May 2004. Click here for historic information on historic Rule changes.
The Rule change process is overseen by the Rule Change Committee (the "RCC"), and by a series of sub-committees of the RCC. Information regarding the RCC and its sub-committees are as follows:
The RCC has been established as per the obligation in clause 383 of the Rules. The RCC is established to meet the following objectives:
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to ensure that the retail gas market is governed in a manner that is:
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open and competitive; |
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efficient; and |
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fair to participants and their customers; |
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to ensure compliance with all applicable laws; and |
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to ensure consultation with all participants, pipeline operators, prescribed persons and interested persons as is reasonably required to meet the objectives of REMCo. |
The RCC operates under a formal structure, and its membership consists of:
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one member representing REMCo (chairperson); |
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at least one member representing the network operators; |
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one member that represents the user with a market share of at least 50%; and |
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at least one member representing the users that have less than 50% market share. |
The members of the Rule Change Committee are:
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Chairman: |
Mr Stephen Eliot (REMCo) |
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Member representing Network Operators: |
Mr Joe Sanches (WA Gas Networks) |
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Member representing majority Retailer: |
Mr Ray Myles (Alinta Sales) |
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Member representing other Retailers: |
Mr Paul Bresloff-Barry (Synergy) |
The Economic Regulation Authority (the "ERA") may attend the RCC meetings as an observer.
In addition, participants that do not formally have a representative on the RCC, pipeline operators, prescribed persons, and other interested parties may be invited to attend the RCC as observers, at the discretion of the Chairman of the RCC.
The operation of the RCC is described in RCC Charter. Click here for a copy of the RCC Charter.
The RCC operates according to a set of "Rule Change Procedures". Click here for a copy of these procedures.
REMCo has developed new templates to replace the existing documents used to by the RCC to administer rule change proposals. These new templates are:
The Technical Working Group ("TWG") is a sub-committee of the RCC. The purpose of the TWG is to provide a forum for the technical representatives of REMCo and its members to consult and reach agreement on the adoption of proposed changes to the technical rules/standards that impact the market systems. The TWG will seek convergence with other gas markets, where practicable and economically efficient.
The TWG is chaired by REMCo, and the membership of the TWG is limited to one member and alternate per market participant. The TWG meets on a monthly basis to:
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provide technical advice to the RCC; |
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identify, consider, consult on, and resolve technical issues that impact, or have the potential to impact the market systems; and |
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identify, consider, consult on, and resolve technical issues associated with implementation and testing of the technical rules/standards that impact the market systems. |
Click here for a copy of the TWG Charter.
The Balancing Load Allocation Settlement Team (the "BLAST") is a working group of subject mater experts from each of the gas market participants who have a solid and detailed understanding of the various operational aspects of the market.
The BLAST is a working group that has been established to deal mainly with Chapter 5 (Allocation, Reconciliation and Swing) of the Rules. This working group does not have a formal membership structure, but representatives from all REMCo members and pipeline operators are able to raise retail market issues when they arise.
Click here for a copy of the BLAST Charter.
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