The AER has been notified by the Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources of the Victorian Government’s intention to introduce new distribution network pricing arrangements in Victoria. The implementation approach to the arrangements will be introduced by amending Victoria’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI Tariffs) Order. Under the National Electricity Rules, distribution businesses are required to comply with any jurisdictional pricing obligations imposed by state or territory governments in preparing their Tariff Structure Statements. The Minister has advised the AER that stakeholders will be consulted on the proposed changes to the AMI Tariffs Order in February. The Rules however require the AER to issue draft determinations by 22 February 2016 on the Victorian Tariff Structure Statements which were initially proposed in September and October 2015.
We recognise that distributors will be required to amend their Tariff Structure Statements in response to the new obligations being developed by the Victorian Government. Any such amendments will therefore not be reflected until the Victorian distributors submit their revised Tariff Structure Statement proposals, due late April 2016.
We encourage stakeholders to submit their written submissions to us by 20 January 2016 as originally set out in our consultation timetable. We will still be assisted by the views expressed by stakeholders in these submissions and those provided during our earlier public forum held 14 December 2015 in forming our views on the Tariff Structure Statement proposals.
We will provide additional opportunities for stakeholders to comment on the Victorian distributors’ revised Tariff Structure Statements proposals while adhering to the legislated timeframes as set out in the Rules. The details of further consultation will be set out at a later date.