The Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995 (ESI Act) provides for the Commissioner, within the meaning of the Government Prices Oversight Act 1995 (GPOC Act), to be the Regulator. The Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 (WSI Act) provides for the Commissioner to be the Water and Sewerage Economic Regulator. To date, the Commissioner/Regulator has also been appointed as the Director of Gas for the purposes of the Gas Act 2000 (Gas Act) and Gas Pipelines Act 2000.

On 24 November 2008, the Treasurer announced that Mr Glenn Appleyard had been appointed to the position of Government Prices Oversight Commissioner. Mr Appleyard, an economic consultant from Hobart, replaces Mr Andrew Reeves who resigned in August 2008 to take up a position as one of three members of the Board of the Australian Energy Regulator. Mr Appleyard has held a number of senior roles in both the State and Commonwealth public services.

The Minister for Energy appointed Mr Appleyard as Director of Gas on 27 November 2008.

Scheduled meeting dates of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator for the remainder of 2009 are as follows:

• Wednesday 18 November 2009
• Friday 18 December 2009

2009-10 Operating Plan

The Operating Plan is the primary planning tool for the Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator and is the means by which OTTER ensures that its activities are focussed on supporting the Regulator and Commission in achieving their objectives. The key initiatives and tasks for OTTER in 2009-10 are detailed in this document.

Independence of the Regulator

The Regulator has a duty of administrative fairness and must not unfairly discriminate between energy companies, customers or other persons. The Regulator is within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman.

The Regulator is independent of Ministerial Direction in carrying out its functions under the ESI Act and the WSI Act. However, the Gas Act provides for the Minister to give directions to the Director of Gas with respect to the carrying out of its functions and powers, except in the consideration and issue of a licence.

The Minister may request that the Regulator report matters as and when required by the Minister. The Regulator also has a statutory duty to preserve the confidentiality of certain information.

Public Interest Disclosure

Staff of the Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator are employees of the Department of Treasury and Finance and support the Economic Regulator in undertaking its functions.

Public bodies are required by the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2002 to publish procedures for the disclosure and investigation of improper conduct or detrimental action by public bodies or public officers. Accordingly, the Regulator/Commission has established procedures.

The Department of Treasury and Finance (Department) has also established procedures for reporting disclosures of improper conduct or detrimental action by the Department or its employees. To make a disclosure about the improper conduct of public officers or public bodies click here.