On 17 December 2024, the AER received a ring-fencing waiver application from CitiPower, Powercor, and United Energy (collectively referred to as CPU) for a waiver from clauses 3.1(b) and 4.2 of the Ring-fencing guideline (electricity distribution) to allow them to provide and maintain kerbside EV chargers (electric vehicle charging infrastructure – or EVCI) in their distribution areas. 

The proposal involves CPU installing and maintaining EVCI (i.e. the pole mounted equipment that enables EV charging). CPU will not operate the EVCI. Rather, it will provide an unregulated third party with access to the EVCI, with the third-party acquiring retail services from a licensed retailer.

We are seeking stakeholder views on the opportunities and risks of CPU, as a distribution network service provider (DNSP), deploying EVCI in its distribution networks. These include the potential customers outcomes achieved by CPU in providing EVCI services and potential impacts on competition in the EV charging market. To facilitate consultation, we have released an accompanying consultation paper outlining these issues and our specific questions for stakeholder feedback. 

We welcome stakeholders to participate in one of a series of online stakeholder workshops in early May as part of the public consultation process, with a workshop for each of the following groups of stakeholders: