On 30 May 2013, the AEMC decided to make the National Electricity Amendment (Minor Changes) Rule 2013 and the National Gas Amendment (Minor Changes) Rule 2013. These Rules were initiated by the AEMC to correct minor errors and make non-material changes to the National Electricity Rules (NER) and the National Gas Rules (NGR).

The Commission considers that the final Rules will improve the quality of the NER and NGR in terms of accuracy and consistency. The Commission considers that the final Rules are likely to contribute to the achievement of the NEO, although the efficiency benefits that will result from the final Rules are considered to be very small given the minor or non-material nature of the changes proposed.

The final Rules support effective and transparent regulation and operation

of the NEM and the natural gas markets, by clarifying the operation of the Rules in the following ways:

• correcting several minor errors, including formatting, typographical and cross referencing anomalies in the Rules;
• correcting inconsistencies in the treatment of Chapter 10 glossary terms in the body of the National Electricity Rules (NER);
• inserting notes relating to civil penalty and conduct provisions in the National Gas Rules (NGR); and
• removing expired provisions from the Rules.

Background

On 18 April 2013, the Commission gave notice under sections 95 and 96(1)(a) of the National Electricity Law and sections 303 and 304(1)(a) of the National Gas Law of its intention to initiate the proposed National Electricity Amendment (Minor Changes) Rule 2013 and National Gas Amendment (Minor Changes) Rule 2013 under the expedited Rule making process.

No objections to the expedited rule making process were received. Two submissions were received.