The Ministerial Council on Energy's Standing Committee of Officials is in the final stages of consultation on the new National Energy Customer Framework. The framework, comprising the National Energy Retail Law, Rules and Regulations, is expected to be passed later this year.
The new Law and Rules will be underpinned by a series of guidelines and procedures developed by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) in consultation with energy market stakeholders.
To assist us in preparing these guidelines/instruments, the AER plans to consult informally with stakeholders throughout this year before commencing formal consultation under the Retail Law and Rules once the new legislation is in place.
This informal consultation is not intended to replace the formal consultation required by the Retail Law and Rules.
Documents published as part of this informal consultation process will be informed by the second exposure draft of the National Energy Customer Framework released on 27 November 2009, and may change in response to any amendments made by the Ministerial Council on Energy before the new legislation is passed.
The form of consultation may differ from issue to issue. Subject to stakeholder interest, the AER may hold public forums and roundtable discussions around draft guidelines/instruments as part of this informal consultation process.
A draft indicative timeline for consultation is provided below for your information:
March-April 2010
- AER Pricing Information Guidelines (Issues paper)
- Authorisation Guidelines (Issues paper and draft guideline)
April-May 2010
- National Hardship Indicators (Issues paper and draft indicators)
May-June 2010
- AER Compliance Procedures and Guidelines, AER Performance Reporting Guidelines (Issues paper and proposed approach)
June-July 2010
- Exempt selling guidelines and deemed and registrable exemptions (Issues paper and draft guideline)
Timelines for any informal consultation on instruments supporting the new Retailer of Last Resort framework will be advised at a later date.