In 2013 the AER will begin a program of work to deliver an improved regulatory framework focused on promoting the long term interests of electricity consumers. This follows from changes to the National Electricity Rules announced yesterday by the Australian Energy Market Commission.
The AER will be developing its approach to regulation under the new framework over the next 12 months, a process that will involve extensive consultation with all stakeholders. Throughout 2013, the AER will work with all stakeholders to develop a series of guidelines that will set out a new approach to regulation. These guidelines will cover how we assess expenditure proposals, calculate the allowed return on assets, allocate costs, engage with consumers, and more.
A key part of this consultation will be giving stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback directly to us at working groups and other targeted forums. Together with written submissions on our consultation papers, we will use this feedback to complete final guidelines by the end of November 2013.
Critical to our success in this extensive work program will be to hear from all stakeholders on the matters that are important to you.
Consultation
The AER will hold a videoconference forum on 18 December 2012 to discuss our work program and the consultation process that we are planning.
Prior to the forum we will release an issues paper on 10 December 2012 with more information on the guidelines and our plans for the consultation processes for each work stream.
To register for this forum please send an e-mail to AERInquiry
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERInquiry[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au) by Tuesday 11 December 2012. Please indicate which capital city office you would like to attend or if you would prefer to participate via teleconference.