The paper includes details on the commission's process for the inquiry, which has been updated following submissions received.

The inquiry consists of a two- stage consultative process, with stage one focusing on defining the commission's framework for the Inquiry. Stage two of the process focuses on the application of the framework and interpretation of the associated findings.

Interested parties and industry participants can make written submissions to the commission on the draft framework paper August 15.

The New Zealand government announced the gas sector review last November, when Energy Minister Pete Hodgson called for self-governance by the gas sector players, backed by the threat of regulation and a commerce commission inquiry into monopoly pricing methodologies.

The gas sector, in turn, is expecting an electricity-style shakeup, which late last decade saw power companies having to choose between electricity generation and selling, or transmission activities.

Hodgson has said the government wants to enhance efficiency and reliability in gas production and transportation, and improve fairness for gas customers as New Zealand headed into a post-Maui age. He also said the government expects the gas industry to move quickly, with new industry arrangements to be in place by December 2004.