Gas Licence - South Australia

Description

Under the Gas Act 1997, a licence is required for operations in the gas supply industry. These operations include: distribution and retail operations. Certain licence exemptions exist under the relevant Regulations.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

Key criteria include:

  • that the applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence and has the ability to operate a viable business; and
  • in the case of a licence authorising the operation of a gas distribution network, the network or system has the necessary capacity for distributing gas safely; or
  • in the case of a licence authorising retailing of gas - the applicant will be able to meet reasonably foreseeable contractual obligations for the sale of gas.

The Commission must also have regard to the general factors specified in Part 2 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2002.

In deciding whether an applicant is a suitable person to hold a gas licence, ESCOSA may consider the following:

  • the applicant's previous commercial dealings and the standard of honesty and integrity shown in those dealings;
  • resources available to the applicant - financial, technical and human resources; and
  • whether the officers and major shareholders (where applicable) of the applicant have shown, in their past commercial and other dealings, honesty and integrity.

Duration

Determined on a case-by-case basis.

Fees

2018-2019 fees:
Application Fee: $1000
Annual Licence Fee: Determined based on the licence granted.

Contact the Commission for details.

Act(s) name

Essential Services Commission Act 2002 SA

Gas Act 1997 SA

Additional information

Applicants will be required to:

  • provide all of the information requested in the form;
  • detail their identity;
  • detail the nature/scope of operations for which a licence is sought;
  • provide sufficient information to enable ESCOSA to assess their suitability;
  • satisfy ESCOSA that the applicant can meet relevant licence conditions; and
  • pay the fee.

Applicants must show they have the technical capacity to comply with licence conditions.

Licence applicants must also demonstrate their financial capacity to ESCOSA. In general, ESCOSA will be satisfied with the financial capacity of an applicant for an electricity retail licence, if the applicant can demonstrate that it either:

  • has a long term credit rating of BBB or greater with Standard and Poor???s or Moodys; or
  • the applicant is registered as a Market Participant by AEMO; or
  • has operated as a licensee and held a retail licence in another jurisdiction for at least 2 years.

Administering agency

Essential Services Commission of South Australia

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.

Enquiries

Operating address: Level 1, 151 Pirie Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Mailing address: GPO Box 2605
Adelaide SA 5001
Toll Free: 1800633592
Phone: 0884634444
Fax: 0884634449
Email: escosa@escosa.sa.gov.au
Website: http://www.escosa.sa.gov.au/ (Opens in new window)