Report of the Technical Regulator This Is the Annual Report of the Technical Regulator Under the Gas Act 1997
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i Report of the Technical Regulator This is the annual report of the Technical Regulator under the Gas Act 1997. It describes the operations of the Technical Regulator for the financial year 2014/15 as required by sections 14 of the Gas Act 1997. This section requires the minister to cause a copy of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament. The Technical Regulator is a statutory office established by Section 7 of the Gas Act 1997. Robert Faunt has held this office since he was appointed as the Technical Regulator on 28 February 2003. Technical Regulator: Robert Faunt Address: Level 8, ANZ Building 11 Waymouth Street Adelaide 5000 Postal Address: GPO Box 320 Adelaide SA 5001 Telephone: (08) 8226 5500 Facsimile: (08) 8226 5529 Office Hours: 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays) Website: www.sa.gov.au/otr Email: [email protected] ISSN: 1832-8687 Front Cover Photos: Top: The city gate odorising, gas metering and pressure reduction compound that feeds natural gas to the Port Pirie Township and local industries. Middle: Type B testing of a new hot water boiler in the plant room of a building Bottom: Port Bonython LP gas production facility Note: All photographs in this report have been used with the permission of the relevant provider. Annual Report of the Technical Regulator Electricity 2013/14 i Preface This report covers the Technical Regulator’s operations under the Gas Act 1997 for the financial year ending 30 June 2015. Gas Act 1997 Section 3 of the Gas Act 1997 states that: “The objects of this Act are— (a) to promote efficiency and competition in the gas supply industry; and (b) to promote the establishment and maintenance of a safe and efficient system of gas distribution and supply; and (c) to establish and enforce proper standards of safety, reliability and quality in the gas supply industry; and (d) to establish and enforce proper safety and technical standards for gas installations and appliances; and (e) to protect the interests of consumers of gas.” The Technical Regulator is established by section 7 of the Act. Section 8 of the Act states that: “The Technical Regulator has the following functions: (b) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards in the gas supply industry; and (c) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards with respect to gas installations; and (da) the provision of advice in relation to safety or technical standards in the gas supply industry to the Commission at the Commission’s request; and (e) any other functions assigned to the Technical Regulator under this Act.” The Act was amended by the advent of the Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000 in May 2012. This Act makes provisions relating to safety, performance, energy efficiency and energy labelling of products powered by electricity, gas or other energy sources. The Technical Regulator advises the Minister for Energy on gas emergency management and related issues. In addition, the Technical Regulator provides input and is involved in a range of activities in liaison with the gas industry and other Government agencies. The Technical Regulator’s operations in relation to these functions are dealt with in various sections of this report. ii Content Report of the Technical Regulator i Preface ii Content iii Technical Regulator’s Commentary 1 The Office of the Technical Regulator 3 Section 1: Overview of the Natural Gas Industry in SA 4 Section 2: SA Natural Gas Supply 5 2.1. Natural Gas Infrastructure 7 2.2. Safety of Natural Gas Infrastructure 7 2.2.1. Safety, reliability, maintenance and technical management plan (SRMTMP) 7 2.2.2. Gas Measurement Management Plan (GMMP) 8 2.2.3. Auditing for Safety and Technical Compliance 9 2.2.4. Gas Incidents 10 2.2.5. Third Party Damage 12 2.2.6. Gas Leak Public Reports 13 2.2.7. Leakage surveys 14 2.2.8. Unaccounted for Gas (UAFG) and Mains Replacement Plan (MRP) 14 2.3. Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LP gas) Distribution Networks 16 2.3.1. Auditing for Safety and Technical Compliance 17 2.3.2. Incident Reporting 18 Section 3: Natural Gas and LP gas Installations 19 3.1. Responsibilities 19 3.2. Residential and Light Commercial Gas Installations 19 3.3. Industrial and Large Commercial Gas Installations 19 3.4. Auditing for Compliance 22 3.4.1. Proactive Audits 22 3.4.2. Mobile installations in Recreational Vehicles 24 3.4.3. Temporary kitchens at outside events 25 3.4.4. Audits of Permanent Gas Installations at Tourist and Caravan Parks 27 3.4.5. Effect Burners used in Public Events or Productions 28 3.4.6. Installation Audit Results 28 3.4.7. Enforcement Activities for Non-compliant Gas Installations 29 3.4.8. Referrals to Consumer Business Service (CBS) 30 3.5. Gas Incidents – Installations 30 3.6. Gas Certificates of Compliance (GCC) 32 3.7. Communication and Education 33 3.7.1. Industry Liaison and Support 33 3.7.2. Technical Presentations 33 3.7.3. Assistance with the Development of Technical Training Courses 33 3.7.4. Standard Committee Representation – Formulation of Standards 33 3.7.5. New Gas Installation Standard called up by the Gas Act 34 iii Section 4: Natural Gas and LP gas Appliances 35 4.1. Gas Appliance Certification 35 4.2. Appliance and Component Recalls and Safety Notices 35 4.3. Small mobile LP gas appliances 36 Section 5: Consumer Safety Awareness 38 5.1. Gas Retailers’ Safety Awareness Plans (SAP) 38 5.1.1. Continuous Safety Promotion 38 5.1.2. The Technical Regulator Website 39 5.2. Gas Consumer Safety Survey 40 Section 6: Gas Supply Emergency Management 42 Section 7: Regulatory Coordination 44 7.1. Safety and Technical Standards 44 7.2. Committee Representation 44 7.2.1. AG-006, Gas Installation Committee (AS 5601) 44 7.2.2. AG-001, Gas Appliances Committee 44 7.2.3. AG-008, Gas Distribution Committee (AS/NZS 4645) 45 7.2.4. AG-010, Natural Gas Quality Specifications Committee (AS 4564) 45 7.2.5. Gas Technical Regulators Committee (GTRC) 46 7.2.6. Other Committees, Forums and Representation 46 Appendix 1. OTR Background 49 A1.1. OTR Organisational structure and Gas branch 49 A1.2. Technical Regulator’s activities and monitoring 50 Appendix 2. Certificate of Compliance 51 Appendix 3. Presentations 52 Appendix 4. Operating Statement 53 Appendix 5. Network Performance 2014/15 55 Appendix 6. Glossary and Abbreviations 60 iv Technical Regulator’s Commentary The Technical Regulator carried out investigations, audits and other gas industry monitoring activities to help ensure that the South Australian public continues to receive a reliable and safe gas supply. In the 2014/15 year, the major aspects of the Technical Regulator’s operations and administration were the following. Gas Installation and Appliances – Incidents and Safety No gas related deaths were reported during the year but 15 gas related incidents involving injury or significant property damage were investigated. There were 8,544 new connections to the natural gas distribution system. All new installations connected to the natural gas supply are subjected to a pre-connection safety check agreed to by the Technical Regulator. The safety check ensures the system is gas tight and that the installation and appliances comply with Australian Standards. The Technical Regulator monitors the effectiveness of this system by carrying out random audits. The Technical Regulator proactively audited 87 industrial and commercial (I&C) installations and 1,091 residential and light commercial installations making a total of 1,178 audits. Gas Appliance Online Activity The purchase of uncertified gas appliances continues as an important issue. The Technical Regulator continues to monitor the various internet auction sites with a view to eliminating the availability of uncertified gas appliances. Safety of Gas Supply Audits of Australian Gas Networks (AGN), Origin Energy LPG and Environmental Land Services (Aust) Limited (ELS) satisfied the Technical Regulator that there are sound systems in place to ensure that risks to the community from the operation of natural gas and LP gas distribution networks are being managed to an acceptable level. The Technical Regulator was pleased that the amount of Unaccounted for Gas (UAFG) from the AGN natural gas distribution networks decreased in 2014/15. AGN replaced approximately 266 km of old gas mains over the last 12 months. Industry Communication and Education A total of 13 Industry Roadshows regarding gas safety were carried out in conjunction with the Plumbing Industry. All licensed gas workers and contractors in South Australia were invited to attend. In addition 18 presentations were given to industry stakeholders, i.e. consultants, registered training organisations (RTOs), Housing Industry and Association (HIA) event organisers and other Government Departments. There were two editions of the industry newsletter Regulation Roundup (a general gas, electrical and plumbing information newsletter, sent to all licensed gas and electrical contractors and registered workers) issued in the 2014/15 period. Public Safety Awareness and Safety Education The Technical Regulator conducts an annual public safety awareness campaign. This campaign included specific and general gas safety media releases, radio advertising and internet google word searching. The topics covered gas appliance safety, carbon monoxide awareness, the importance of using a licensed tradesperson and obtaining a Gas Certificate of Compliance for all gas installation work. The campaign continues to remind the public of the importance of reporting gas leaks. Page 1 of 63 The Consumer Safety Survey for this year provided data that will help to improve the effectiveness of the Technical Regulator’s safety campaign. Reliability of Gas Supply and Emergency Management There was one major gas supply interruption during 2014/15.