In Decision 2010-260, dated June 8, 2010, the Commission stated that it would initiate a consultation for the development of a generic AUC rule pertaining to a natural gas settlement system code.

On August 30, 2010 the Commission released Bulletin 2010-22 notifying interested parties of the initiation of a rule development consultation process for the natural gas settlement system code. The starting point of this process was to be the ATCO Gas natural gas settlement system code, which was approved by the Commission in Decision 2010-260. The ATCO Gas natural gas settlement system code documents standards and business processes for determining and communicating settlement results and other market transactions between ATCO Gas and gas retailers, similar to AUC Rule 021: Settlement System Code for the electricity market. Interested parties worked with AUC staff in the drafting of the new AUC rule.

The AUC uses a consultative process to resolve settlement issues raised by stakeholders. An outcome from resolving these issues might be changes being made to AUC Rule 028. Many of the issues are similar to the ones raised on the electricity market under AUC Rule 021: Settlement System Code Rules. Consequently the rule change cycle for AUC Rule 028 will be identical with that of AUC Rule 021 in order to facilitate business process efficiencies within the two markets. The schedule will be as follows:

1. Jan 1 to June 30:
   a. Form sub-working groups to deal with specific issues, if required.
   b. Sub-working groups to provide recommendations/resolutions to those identified issues
   c. Settlement Working Group to review recommendations

2. July 1 to September 30:
   a. AUC to draft proposed changes based on recommendations
   b. Circulate among Settlement Working Group members for review

3. October 1 - 15:
   a. Posting proposed rule changes on AUC’s web for stakeholder comment

4. October 16 – 31:
   a. AUC to respond stakeholders’ comments
   b. Posting AUC responses

5. November 1 to 30: (AUC Internal)
   a. Present proposed changes to AUC Commissioners
   b. Respond to Commissioners’ questions
   c. Seeking final approval from Commissioners

6. By December 15:
   a. Posting complete AUC Rule 028, with proposed changes
   b. Rule effective the following January

Version 1.0

April 2011

The Commission issued Bulletin 2011-11 to announce the release of  Rule 028: Natural Gas Settlement System Code (Rule 028). Written comments  by participants on the draft rule and the AUC responses are provided in the comment submissions table.