On 20 June 2012, The Ministerial Council on Energy endorsed the introduction of a new chapter 5A—Electricity connection for retail customers—to the National Electricity Rules. Under the new chapter 5A, the AER will be required to develop and publish connection charge guidelines to codify how electricity distributors should charge new electricity customers for connecting to their networks.
Distributors will be required to develop their connection policies for approval by the AER based on the guidelines. The connection policies must set out the circumstances in which connection charges are payable and the basis for determining the amount of these charges.