Australian Capital Territory

Utilities (Gas Restriction Scheme)
Approval 2005 (No 1)

Disallowable instrument DI2005—73

made under the

Utilities Act 2000, s 234 (Regulation making power); 
Utilities (Gas Restrictions) Regulation 2004, 
section 6 (Approved gas restriction scheme)

______________________________________________________________

Approval of scheme

I approve the attached gas restriction scheme.

Jon Stanhope MLA
Chief Minister

Date  25 May 2005

Gas Restriction Scheme

The Gas Restriction Scheme (the Scheme) comprises a range of restriction measures, which the utility may impose, by public notice, when a declaration of gas restriction is in force. The Appendix to this document contains details of:
-	the list of restriction measures that may be imposed; and 
-	the maximum period or periods each day during which each measure applies. 

When the Minister considers that it is necessary or desirable to do so in order to:
-	limit the impact and/or reduce the likelihood of load shedding;
-	prevent more widespread and/or random supply disruptions;
-	reduce the inconvenience to consumers of long-term interruptions; 
-	facilitate, as far as practicable, the provision of reliable and sustainable gas services by the utility to consumers; 
-	fulfil the ACT’s obligations under relevant inter-jurisdictional agreements; or
-	ensure cross-border harmonisation with regard to gas restrictions implemented or proposed in NSW, 
he or she may declare, under the section 9 of the Utilities (Gas Restrictions) Regulations 2004, that a gas restriction under this scheme is in force.

In deciding which one or more of restriction measures should be in force, the following factors must be considered:
-	the expected timeframe and duration of the target reduction in the gas demand;
-	the gas network operational requirement and conditions;
-	the transmission and/or distribution capacity available for the supply of gas services in the ACT;
-	the capacity of gas supply available to the ACT;
-	any other constraints on the capacity of gas supply into the ACT or within the ACT;
-	any reduction in the ACT total gas load to be achieved (eg. as required by the utility or as a result of inter-jurisdictional negotiation);
-	available weather forecasts and other meteorological advice;
-	daily gas demand levels in the immediate preceding period;
-	daily gas demand levels for corresponding periods in previous years;
-	gas restrictions currently imposed in other jurisdictions; and
-	any other relevant issues.

Home Businesses
For the purpose of the Scheme, businesses operated from residential premises are treated as residential customers. 

Automatic Exemptions
Gas may be used to the extent required to directly support the health and safety of the following people:
-	People with a terminal illness and receiving palliative care;
-	People receiving Hospital in the Home treatment services;
-	People dependent on life support systems;
-	Women in the last three months of pregnancy with health complications;
-	Babies and children under 5 years of age;
-	People aged 70 and over;
-	People with a chronic illness or other chronic medical condition (including moderate to severe skin conditions) where their health will or could be adversely affected by the restrictions or associated climatic or other conditions; or
-	People with moderate to severe physical or mental disability.

Gas may also be used for the provision of essential services.  

In relation to restrictions on the use of space and water heating systems, an owner/operator of the system is temporarily exempt from the restriction measures if the compliance with such measures requires adjustment to the system that can only be performed by a suitably qualified person AND the adjustment has been arranged with the qualified person for the earliest possible occasion. 

Other exemptions may be approved by the utility on application, if the consumer can demonstrate that the restrictions measures would cause the consumer serious detriment.

None of the above exemptions will apply in the event of rationing or load shedding that involves gas being cut off from a group of consumers.

Use of other operational means by the utility
Regardless of which restriction measures are imposed, the utility may use other permitted operational means including disconnection of supply (load shedding) to address immediate imbalance between the available supply capacity and the demand, and to preserve the integrity of the gas system and its operation.  

Declaration of a state of emergency under the Emergencies Act 2004
At any time, the ACT Government retains the discretion to declare a state of emergency under the Emergencies Act 2004 under which supply and/or use of gas may be restricted to emergency use only.

Definitions

utility means a licensed gas distribution and connection services provider.

APPENDIX - Restriction measures 

Restrictions on Residential Use of Gas
No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
1.1	No use of gas for decorative, atmospheric or recreational purposes (eg. decorative fire place, hobby kiln)	24 hours per day	
1.2	Turn off unnecessary gas space heating	24 hours per day	
1.3	Turn off unnecessary gas water heating units	24 hours per day	
1.4	Minimise use of gas cooking equipment	24 hours per day	
1.5	No use of gas operated pool heating, spa or sauna	24 hours per day	
1.6	No use of gas clothes dryers	24 hours per day	
1.7	No use of gas space heating	24 hours per day	
1.8	No use of gas water heating units	24 hours per day	
1.9	No use of gas cooking equipment	24 hours per day	
1.10	Total ban on the use of gas	24 hours per day	

and
Restrictions on Commercial/Industrial Use of Gas

No.	Restriction Measures Required	Maximum Timing of Reduction	
1.1	No use of gas for decorative, atmospheric, recreational or advertising purposes (eg. decorative fire place, hobby kiln)	24 hours per day	
1.2	Turn off unnecessary gas space heating	24 hours per day	
1.3	Turn off unnecessary gas water heating units	24 hours per day	
1.4	Minimise use of gas cooking equipment	24 hours per day	
1.5	Adjust the thermostat of gas space heating units to the specified temperature 	24 hours per day	
1.6	No use of gas operated pool heating, spa or sauna	24 hours per day	
1.7	No use of gas clothes dryers	24 hours per day	
1.8	No use of gas space heating	24 hours per day	
1.9	No use of gas water heating units	24 hours per day	
1.10	No use of gas cooking equipment	24 hours per day	
1.11	Total ban on the use of gas except for the provision of essential services	24 hours per day