The Ministerial Council on Energy (now Standing Council on Energy and Resources) endorsed the introduction of a new chapter 5A: Electricity connection for retail customers to the National Electricity Rules. Under chapter 5A, the AER is required to develop and publish connection charge guidelines to codify how Electricity Distribution Network Service Providers should charge new electricity customers for connecting to their networks.
The AER released a Consultation Paper: Issues and AER’s preliminary positions, Connection charge guidelines: for accessing the electricity distribution network (Issues paper) on 10 June 2011. The issues paper identified a number of issues and alternate options for calculating the connection charge, on which the AER sought stakeholders’ opinions. In conjunction with the issues paper, the AER also hosted a public forum on 11 July 2011 to explain the issues identified in the issues paper to facilitate stakeholders in preparing their submissions.
After considering submissions, the AER has now developed a draft connection charge guideline and an explanatory statement for public consultation.
These papers are published in accordance with the distribution consultation procedures set out in clause 6.16(b) of the NER for the purpose of consulting with stakeholders before the AER finalises the connection charge guideline.
Interested parties are invited to make written submissions to the AER, regarding the draft connection charge guideline, by the close of business 17 February 2012. Following consideration of all submissions received the AER will publish a final connection charge guideline.
Submissions
Interested parties are invited to make written submissions to the AER regarding this paper by the close of business Friday 17 February 2012.
Submissions can be sent electronically to: AERInquiry
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERInquiry[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au)
Alternatively, submissions can be sent to:
Mr Chris Pattas General Manager Australian Energy Regulator GPO Box 520 Melbourne VIC 3001For information regarding the AER’s use and disclosure of information provided to it, see the ACCC/AER Information Policy, October 2008 available on the AER’s website.