On 23 October 2024, the AER published an issues paper regarding updates to the Ring-fencing guideline (Electricity transmission) (the Guideline).  The proposed updates focus on amending the guideline to include negotiated transmission services, in line with the AEMC’s amendment to rule 6A.21.2 of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

In our issues paper, we outlined our framework for considering changes.  We also set out a range of matters for stakeholder consideration, including: 

• whether all, some, or no negotiated services should be ring-fenced, and the manner in which ring-fencing should occur 
• whether to expand the definition of ‘ring-fenced information’ 
• whether to require additional reporting on the delivery of services 
• expanding current obligations, in regard to marketing staff separation, to provision of negotiated services, and 
• whether to introduce restrictions on cross-branding and promotions.

We will develop a formal proposal for changes to the guideline, based on feedback provided to the issues paper and previous stakeholder consultations with the AER and AEMC regarding the NER rule change.

To provide interested stakeholders with a summary of feedback to the issues paper, the AER hosted a webinar on 3 December 2024.

The webinar was held in advance of our formal consultation on the proposed changes to the guideline, which we expect to publish in early December 2024. 

The slides presented in the webinar are attached below.

We invited interested stakeholders to provide submissions on our issues paper by 13 November 2024. 

Submissions have now closed.

The issues paper was the first stage of consultation on possible changes to the guideline and the treatment of negotiated transmission services. After considering initial stakeholder submissions and comments, we will release a more detailed proposal for further stakeholder feedback.