Under the Gas Supply Act 1996 (the Act) the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) regulates retail gas prices for small retail customers. While the Act gives IPART the power to issue gas pricing orders that establish prices or pricing mechanisms, to date IPART decided to agree voluntary pricing arrangements with each of the standard suppliers (incumbent gas retailers)The current voluntary pricing arrangements expire on 30 June 2010. The Minister for Energy has written to IPART requesting that it continue to regulate default tariffs and charges for small retail gas customers via new voluntary pricing arrangements or a gas pricing order that will apply from 1 July 2010 - 30 June 2013.