The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is inviting registrations of interest to join a new Consumer Reference Group (CRG). The purpose of this CRG is to facilitate consumer input into our review of the rate of return guideline.
We place stakeholder engagement at the centre of our work. We recognise that the decisions we make and the actions we take in performing our regulatory roles and other activities affect a wide range of individuals, businesses and organisations. Our vision is for our stakeholders to have the opportunity to engage with us across a range of our functions.
In keeping with this approach, CRG members will bring a wide range of consumer views to inform our thinking on estimating the rate of return.
The rate of return is the biggest driver of regulated revenue, but it is complex and contentious.
Our rate of return guideline sets out the approach by which we will estimate the rate of return. It comprises of the return on debt and the return on equity, as well as the value of imputation credits.
We initiated a review of the rate of return guideline on 31 July 2017 by publishing our consultation paper on the process for reviewing the rate of return guideline. We aim to publish an issues paper in October 2017 on the substantive issues in estimating the rate of return.
Members of the CRG will have the opportunity to provide customer perspectives directly for our consideration. We anticipate that CRG members will take up opportunities to work collaboratively, provide submissions on our issues papers and draft decision, and contribute to our workshops and forums.
Depending on the progress of our review, the CRG could continue until the end of 2018.
Registration of interest
Please register your interest by emailing rateofreturn
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (rateofreturn[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au) before 5pm, 14 September 2017. Please briefly detail the consumer perspectives that you would bring to the CRG.
Please do not hesitate to contact Matthew Simpson on (03) 9290 1969 for any enquiries or questions about the CRG.