KCA is the biggest user of gas from Origin Energy's local Katnook field where reserves are running out quicker than predicted.

The Katnook fields supply a gas transmission network servicing over 6,000 industrial and residential customers in the Mount Gambier and Penola region, with annual demand of about three petajoules per annum. Unfortunately this network is not connected to the major gas transmission system servicing south-east Australia.

Origin Energy has told 11 major companies in the region to ration their use. Kimberly-Clark has brought forward a maintenance shutdown to ease demand and has now agreed to continue the shutdown for the next few weeks.

Origin is fast-tracking the connection of these gas fields to the eastern Australian gas transmission network. But this will not be completed until October and the company is also investigating options for bridging this gap.

Meanwhile, the South Australian Government has exercised the powers of the Office of Technical Regulator to ensure Origin Energy deals properly with affected customers, according to an ABC Online report.

"We're going to equip ourselves with the information to know that Origin is treating their customers as they should be,” energy minister Pat Conlon said.

“The assurance that we can give is that it won't affect residential customers, and we are examining options to get more gas on-stream."