The AusNet Distribution Network is owned by AusNet Gas Services. AusNet Gas Services Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of AusNet Pty Ltd, owned by Australian Energy Holdings No 4 Pty Ltd, a company owned by a Brookfield-led consortium of shareholders.
The AusNet Gas Distribution network (formerly known as the Westar distribution network) was formed in 1997, when the Victorian government restructured the state’s gas industry from the government owned monopoly (Gas and Fuel Corporation) into separate transmission, distribution and retail businesses. These new businesses were sold to the private sector in 1999. TXU purchased the Westar network in 1999 and renamed it TXU (Networks) Gas. In 2004, SP Energy (a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Power) acquired TXU’s Australian assets which included TXU (Networks) Gas.
AusNet Services Limited (now AusNet Pty Ltd) was delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange on 16 February 2022, after all shares in AusNet Services were acquired by Australian Energy Holdings No 4 Pty Limited - a company owned by the Brookfield-led consortium.
AusNet Pty Ltd is Victoria’s largest diversified energy network business and connects communities with reliable, affordable and sustainable energy. Its vision is to be trusted to bring the energy and build a cleaner tomorrow. With over $14 billion in assets, it operates three core regulated networks: electricity distribution, gas distribution and the state-wide electricity transmission network. Additionally, its portfolio includes contracted energy infrastructure. Under the name ‘Mondo,’ it offers energy and technical services. AusNet’s dedicated team of over 1,700 employees serves over 1.6 million customers.
The AusNet Gas Distribution network serves more than 838,000 customers in western metropolitan Melbourne and central and western areas of Victoria. It consists of approximately 13,122km of distribution mains and 184km of transmission pipelines. The AusNet network contains a range of pipeline diameters from 50 to 500 mm. In 2024-25 the AusNet Network supplied 60,438 TJ of gas to our residential, commercial and industrial customers.
The network has 43 city gates located in the following suburbs: Allansford, Ararat, Avalon, Amphitheatre, Maddingley, Ballan, Warrenheip, Gheringhap, Big Hill (Bendigo), Muckleford, Cobden, Elliminyt, Corio, Wollert, Daylesford, Derrimut, Diggers Rest, Williams Landing, Hamilton, Hoppers Crossing, Bungalally, Koroit, Kyneton, Lancefield, Avalon, Laverton North, Werribee, Lovely Banks, Carisbrook, Eynesbury, Mount Cottrell, Werribee, Parwan, Plumpton, Portland North, Truganina, Stawell, Sunbury, Plumpton, Millbrook, Winchelsea, Carlsruhe and Wyndham Vale.
The AusNet Distribution Network was initially subject to regulation as a covered pipeline under the Gas Code by the Essential Services Commission of Victoria (ESC) which was formerly the Office of the Regulator General, Victoria (ORG).
In enacting the National Gas Law and Rules, the National Gas (Victoria) Act 2008 specifies that access arrangements cannot be consolidated for any of the covered pipelines in Victoria (s. 35). In addition, under the National Gas (Victoria) Act 2008, the Victorian Minister has by order published in the Victorian Government Gazette (S222, 30 June 2009) declared that the four distribution pipelines and the transmission pipeline that had been covered under the Gas Code are classified as ‘designated pipelines’. These are the AusNet, Envestra (Vic), Multinet and Envestra (Albury) gas distribution networks and the Victorian Transmission System. As a result, these pipelines:
- remained under full regulation and could not be the subject of a light regulation determination (see sections 109 and 111 of the NGL prior to March 2023)
- are currently scheme pipelines and cannot be the subject of a scheme pipeline revocation determination (see section 97(1) of the NGL).