The Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED) has released a consultation paper seeking stakeholder feedback on proposed amendments to the Economic Regulation Authority (National Gas Access Funding) Regulations 2009 and the National Gas Access (WA) (Local Provisions) Regulations 2009.
These regulations establish the cost recovery frameworks that fund functions performed by the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) and the Western Australian Energy Disputes Arbitrator (WA Arbitrator) under WA’s version of the National Gas Law, the National Gas Access (WA) Law.
Western Australia intends to amend the National Gas Access (WA) Law by adopting two national reform packages that are already implemented elsewhere in Australia: The Gas Pipelines Package and the Other Gases Package. These reforms will expand the ERA’s regulatory functions and reduce the number of pipelines accessing the WA Arbitrator’s services, requiring the existing cost recovery frameworks to be updated.
DEED is currently seeking feedback on WA’s adoption of the Gas Pipelines Package, with the consultation package available for download on the consultation page. DEED intends to release a consultation package on WA’s adoption of the Other Gases Package later in the year.
To support the adoption of the Gas Pipelines and Other Gases packages, the below consultation paper proposes several amendments to the Gas Access Funding Regulations, including:
- removing the Kalgoorlie to Kambalda Pipeline (KKP) from the scheme pipeline cost recovery framework following its re-categorisation as a non-scheme pipeline;
- updating the methodology used to allocate standing charges among scheme pipelines—the consultation paper seeks stakeholder feedback on two approaches for updating the cost allocation percentages;
- amending specific charges to enable the ERA to recover costs associated with its new and expanded regulatory functions;
- introducing a new cost recovery framework for non-scheme pipelines, including standing charges to recover core regulatory costs and specific charges for pipeline-specific regulatory activities;
- introducing a new cost recovery framework for stand-alone compression service facilities, gas storage facilities, and blend processing facilities (Part 18A facilities).
The re-categorisation of the KKP also requires amendments to the cost recovery framework for the WA Arbitrator. Under the Local Provisions Regulations, part of the WA Arbitrator’s annual estimate is recovered from scheme pipelines using the same cost allocation percentages as in the Gas Access Funding Regulations. Like the Gas Access Funding Regulations, these percentages will need to be updated to reflect the KKP’s removal as a scheme pipeline.
Stakeholder consultation
A consultation paper outlining the proposed amendments and seeking stakeholder views on a range of policy questions is available below. A submission feedback template is also provided to assist stakeholders in preparing their feedback.
Consultation closes at 5:00pm (AWST) on Wednesday, 25 November 2026.
Submissions can be emailed to gasnetworkpolicy@deed.wa.gov.au and stakeholders are asked to provide detailed supporting evidence of direct impacts where possible.
Please note:
- late submissions may not be considered; and
- submissions will be published on DEED’s website unless confidentiality is specifically requested.
