Under the Retail Law, the AER is responsible for regulating businesses or people that sell energy to persons for premises. A number of businesses wishing to sell energy under alternative energy selling models are approaching the AER, seeking guidance on whether a retailer authorisation or a retail exemption is required for their business activities.
On 14 October 2013, the AER published an issues paper which set out a proposed approach to regulating alternative energy selling models under the National Energy Retail Law. The AER agreed a final position on regulating alternative energy sellers on 23 June 2014. This statement of approach is intended to give guidance to potential applicants and others on whether they need a retailer authorisation or exemption in order to sell energy and to explain the reasons for our approach. The paper also responds to the issues raised during the consultation on the issues paper.