Today the AEMC announced it would commence consultation on a rule change request submitted by the Australian Energy Regulator which seeks to improve the efficiency and operation of the process for the recovery of costs incurred by pipeline operators in relation to the market operator service allocation service and natural gas market bulletin board aggregation and information service. Submissions to this rule change request and consultation paper are due by 24 January 2013.

In addition, the AEMC has today published a notice under s. 317 of the National Gas Law to extend the period of time for making the draft rule determination on this rule change request. This extension of time is required due to the consultation period coinciding with the Christmas-new year period. It will allow stakeholders to fully and adequately consider the issues and to prepare their submissions to the consultation paper.