The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has today released the Retailer authorisation guideline. The guideline is required under section 117 of the National Energy Retail Law (Retail Law).
Under the Retail Law, the AER will be responsible for issuing and revoking retailer authorisations. To support this role, the AER is required to develop a guideline to assist applicants to understand the process for obtaining energy retailer authorisations, and for the transfer, surrender or revocation of retailer authorisations.
The AER commenced consultation on the guideline with the release of an issues paper and draft guideline in March 2010 and revised draft guidelines in November 2010 and March 2011. These papers and written submissions received in response to them are available at the AER website. The AER used the earlier consultations to develop the guideline.
The notice of final instrument and the guideline have been published on the AER’s website in accordance with the retail consultation procedure set out in clause 173 of the National Energy Retail Rules.
As advised by the MCE Standing Committee of Officials Bulletin No. 191, dated 12 April 2011, the transition of existing retailers (those holding a state or territory retail licence in a participating jurisdiction on 12 April 2011) will be determined by jurisdictions and implemented through application legislation.
Any retailer that is granted a jurisdictional licence after 12 April 2011 who wishes to retail energy beyond 1 July 2012 will need to apply to the AER for a national retailer authorisation (or exemption). The AER will start accepting applications for authorisation from 3 October 2011.