The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has today released for comment the draft AER Stakeholder Engagement Framework.
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. To achieve this, we recognise that our stakeholders need to have trust that their input will be valued and, importantly, that the regulatory process can deliver outcomes that reflect stakeholders’ needs and interests.
Our Stakeholder Engagement Framework will work towards this vision by providing a structure that allows stakeholders’ needs and interests to be consistently, transparently and meaningfully considered in our activities, including those processes through which we reach decisions.
The Framework will be a public document that articulates the principles that guide our engagement approach. It will recognise that different levels of engagement are appropriate, depending on the issue, and clearly establish what our stakeholders can expect when they engage with us.
While the Framework relates closely to our engagement with energy consumers, the principles and practices are intended to cover our engagement with energy businesses, policy bodies, regulators and other groups with a stake in our activities and decisions.
Invitation for submissions
Interested stakeholders are invited to make written submissions on the draft Stakeholder Engagement Framework by 30 August 2013. We will also accept comments on a more informal basis. Informal comments can be made by email, over the phone, or through requesting a meeting.
Submissions and comments should be sent electronically to: AERInquiry
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERInquiry[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).
Alternatively, written submissions can be sent via mail to:
Ms Jacqui Thorpe
General Manager – Retail Markets
Australian Energy Regulator
GPO Box 520
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
The AER prefers that all submissions be sent in an electronic format in Microsoft Word or other text readable document form.
Submissions will be treated as public documents and posted on the AER's website, unless prior arrangements are made with the AER to treat the submission as confidential.