On 26 August, the Australian Energy Regulator’s Customer Consultative Group (CCG) held its second meeting for 2014. This was the first meeting of the CCG since the AER’s appointment of a new membership group in April this year.
Acting AER Chair, Mr. Andrew Reeves, discussed the AER’s 2014 work program, including the NSW and Queensland network determination processes, and work in the retail energy sector.
The meeting also featured presentations and discussion on a range of topics relevant to energy customers, including bidding in good faith in the wholesale electricity market and the proposed rule change currently before the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) as well as an update from the AEMC on its broader work in retail energy markets.
Background
The CCG is established under the National Energy Retail Rules and provides advice to the AER in relation to its functions under the energy laws affecting energy consumers across participating jurisdictions. The CCG meets up to three times a year and has twelve members—Australian Federation of Disability Organizations, Consumer Action Law Centre, Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, Council of Small Business of Australia, COTA Australia, Ethnic Communities Council of NSW, National Retail Association, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Queensland Council of Social Service, St Vincent de Paul Society, Tasmanian Council of Social Service and Uniting Communities.