New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

GAS SUPPLY (NATURAL GAS RETAIL COMPETITION) REGULATION 2001 - REG 53

53 Notice of request to vary guaranteed customer service standards

(1) Before making a request to the Minister for the variation of any guaranteed customer service standard, the supplier:

(a) must seek directions from the Minister as to which persons or organisations it should consult with in connection with the proposed request, and

(b) must consult with:

(i) the persons and organisations identified in the directions referred to in paragraph (a), and

(ii) any relevant customer council, and

(iii) if the matter is one covered by an approved gas industry ombudsman scheme, the gas industry ombudsman, and

(c) must cause notice of its proposed request to be published in a newspaper circulating generally in the area in which its customers’ premises are situated, and

(d) must conduct a public meeting, no earlier than 2 weeks after the date of publication of the notice referred to in paragraph (c), for the purpose of:

(i) informing members of the public of the proposed request, and

(ii) allowing members of the public to express their views in connection with the proposed request, and

(e) must allow at least 2 weeks from the date of the public meeting for members of the public to make written submissions to the supplier in connection with the proposed request.

(2) The notice referred to in subclause (1) (c):

(a) must state that the supplier proposes to request that the guaranteed customer service standard concerned be varied, and

(b) must contain particulars of the proposed variation, and

(c) must state that a public meeting will be held, at a date, time and place to be specified in the notice, for the purpose of:

(i) informing members of the public of the proposed request, and

(ii) allowing members of the public to express their views in connection with the proposed request, and

(d) must state that members of the public are invited to submit written submissions to the supplier in connection with the proposed request, and

(e) must indicate the address to which, and the date by which, any such submissions should be delivered to the supplier.

(3) When making the request, the supplier must furnish the Minister with:

(a) evidence that the requirements of this clause have been complied with, and

(b) an assessment of the effect on its customers of the proposed variation of the guaranteed customer service standard (including, in particular, the financial effect of the proposed variation) assuming that the request is approved, and

(c) any submissions received by the supplier as a result of the action taken by it under this clause, and

(d) an assessment of all such submissions, and

(e) evidence that the guaranteed customer service standards that will be applicable to the supplier if the request is granted will be comparable with the minimum standards applicable to similar organisations in other fully competitive energy markets.