1. INTRODUCTION

The business interests of WGL include, as a Distributor, the transportation of natural gas through its six Distribution Systems; as a Gas Retailer, the provision of bundled gas services to its End Users; and as an Appliance Retailer, the sale of natural gas appliances.

As a consequence of its mix of business interests and having embraced the opportunity to assist in the development of a truly competitive natural gas market within New Zealand, WGL is committed to providing Neutral and Non-Discriminatory access to its Distribution Systems. The Company ethos has rapidly evolved and will continue to do so as the both the Company and market continue to develop and mature in the new competitive environment.

With the objective of promoting the development of competitive gas markets in New Zealand, “Gas House”, a voluntary group of companies representing gas suppliers, pipeline owners and gas users, has published a voluntary code of conduct, the “New Zealand Gas Pipeline Access Code”. The Code establishes the minimum standards of conduct and disclosure of information by owners of gas transportation systems, to encourage Neutral and Non-Discriminatory access to these systems. A copy of the Code can be obtained from:

The Chairman
Gas House
PO Box 24102
Wellington

Tel/Fax (06) 364 6787

As a founder member of Gas House and a signatory to the Code, WGL has adopted the Code as a minimum standard and will abide by the terms and spirit of the Code at all times. WGL does not require any User, or potential User, of its Distribution Systems to be either members of Gas House or signatories to the Code.

This Information Memorandum describes the policies, principles and procedures adopted by WGL in providing access to its Distribution Systems, including but not limited to the following;

• a description of the Services offered; and
• the terms and conditions of the Services offered; and
• pricing for the Services offered; and
• the procedures to access the Services offered.

WGL undertakes to treat all parties including its own Gas Retailing business, on a Neutral and Non-Discriminatory basis, and shall not disclose to any other party any information which is supplied to WGL, except that which is publicly available or required by the Code.

The information provided within this document has, wherever possible, been written to assist those not necessarily familiar with industry terminology or processes within the gas industry. Other than words which are normally capitalised, words or phases in capitals are explained under the section “Definitions”.

Information which WGL has made publicly available in accordance with the requirements of the Gas (Information Disclosure) Regulations 1997 has not been duplicated but is available should it be requested. A copy of this information can be obtained from our Distribution Division.

WGL welcomes any comments on the contents of this Information Memorandum or its business practices or ethics, and will wherever possible, assist in providing information which is publicly available or which should be made publicly available where it is in the interest of assisting the development of a competitive gas market .

For enquiries regarding any matter contained within please contact:

The Distribution Manager
Wanganui Gas Limited
PO Box 32
Wanganui
Phone: (06) 349 0131
Fax: (06) 349 0135
Email: distribution@wangas.co.nz

Trevor Goodwin General Manager