The Alice Springs Distribution Network is a distribution pipeline servicing Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. The network is owned and operated by Australian Gas Networks, which is part of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group.
The Alice Springs Distribution Network is approximately 37 km in length and delivers approximately 3.4 PJ/year to approximately 1 135 customers. Natural gas is supplied to the network from the Palm Valley and Mereenie gas fields in the Amadeus Basin via the Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline. Since 2008, gas has also been supplied from the Blacktip gas field in the Bonaparte Basin via the Bonaparte, Amadeus and Palm Valley to Alice Springs pipelines.
The Alice Springs Distribution Network is currently a non-scheme pipeline, and is subject to the access regime for non-scheme pipelines under Chapter 6A of the NGL and Part 23 of the NGR. On 13 December 2017, the AER granted a 5 year category 3 exemption under the former Part 23 of the NGR for the Alice Springs Distribution Network. On 30 November 2022, the AER granted a 5 year category 2 exemption under Part 10 of the NGR.
The network was initially subject to regulation as a covered pipeline under the Gas Code by the ACCC. However, no access arrangement was either submitted to or approved by the ACCC. In July 2000, following a recommendation from the NCC, the relevant minister decided to revoke coverage of the network.
