The commission today announced the start of its inquiry, at the instigation last month of Energy Minister Pete Hodgson, and said it should finish its investigations by November, 2004. It will then report to the minister on whether or not supply of any gas sector relevant goods and services should be controlled.

The Commission said it would soon release information on the process it would follow for its inquiry, which would include opportunities for interested parties to make submissions.

Hodgson has asked the commission to consider: whether gas pipeline services may be controlled in terms of the Commerce Act; the methodology the commission considers appropriate for valuation of pipeline assets for the purposes of its advice on the matters covered in this letter; the net benefits to the public of control; and any other matter the commission might think relevant regarding whether control should be introduced.