Australian Capital Territory
Utilities (Gas Service and Installation Rules Code) Determination 2013
Disallowable Instrument DI2013–172
made under the  
Utilities Act 2000, section 65 (application of industry code provisions)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Purpose of the Code

The Gas Service and Installation Rules Code (this Code) sets out the requirements for the safe, reliable and efficient connections of gas infrastructure, by all persons, from the gas network to the customer’s premises, referred to in the Utility Act 2000 (the Act) as a connection service. 
Legislative Provisions 

This Code is a technical code under part 5 of the Act. The Act forms as a regulatory framework for the utility licence holders in the Australian Capital Territory. Part 5 of the Act provides for the creation and variations of technical codes as part of the requirements that licensed utilities must observe. According to section 65 in part 5 of the Act, provisions for making technical codes apply provisions of part 4 of the Act for industry codes with relevant variations. 
Background 

Due to an increase in the gas demand over the past 20 years, outsourcing of gas connection service work has become a common practice. The gas connection service installation work was once the sole responsibility of a gas utility. The practice by the gas utility for third parties to perform the utility’s work has caused an ambiguous definition of the accountability of the gas utility. There had been no uniform set of rules to provide consistent, unambiguous and clear requirements for the gas distributor to safely construct a gas connection service. In order to ensure the safe, reliable and efficient gas connection services, a new technical code needs to be in place, reflecting the current practice.
Outline	
Under this Code, the gas distributors licensed under the Act are required to produce, publish and adopt Gas Service and Installation Rules (GS & I Rules) to ensure compliance of the safe, reliable and efficient gas connections. This Code provides procedures for publishing GS & I Rules and requirements on the contents of GS & I Rules. Clarifying the accountability of a gas utility, GS & I Rules will benefit all persons, including retailers, developers, builders, gas fitters, home owners, architects, and engineers, to better plan, design, and cater for incorporating gas connection services.