Energy Steering Act 2012.

The present Act together with the Petroleum Stockholding Act 2012 provide the legal framework for Austrian emergency management. All tasks, measures and responsibilities of the national and regional emergency organisations concerned are clearly defined in these laws. The Act represent the key piece of legislation stating the government’s power in dealing with gas supply emergencies is contained in section 20j of the above-mentioned Act, which states that the government is tasked with: 1) giving directions to natural gas undertakings, controlling area managers, balancing group representatives, balancing group co-ordinators and producers regarding the production, transportation, transmission, distribution, storage, wholesaling and retailing of natural gas; 2) giving instructions to final consumers regarding the allocation, withdrawal and use of natural gas, and preventing consumers from withdrawing natural gas; 3) issuing regulations regarding the supply of natural gas from and to EU member states and third countries. The text consists of 43 articles divided into 7 Parts as follows: Principles (1); Intervention measures for solid and liquid energy products (2); Intervention measures to safeguard electricity supplies (3); Intervention measures to safeguard natural gas supplies (4); Energy Intervention Council (5); Penalties (6); Transitional and final provisions (7). Latest amendment of the Act refers to Articles 1, 6a and 26a with regard to competence and execution; compensation for property disadvantages; and protected gas quantities.