On 29 August 2014, the AER received a charges revision application from AusNet Services. This proposed revised 2015 metering charges that take into account actual expenditures incurred by them in 2013. The process for determining charges is set out in the AMI Order in Council made under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).
The AMI Order in Council was amended on 21 October 2014 to allow the AER to extend the deadline for its annual AMI charges determinations to beyond 31 October but no later than 31 December each year. In accordance with the amended Order, the AER has decided to extend the time by which to make its determination on the 2015 AMI charges to 5 December. A further extension to 12 December 2014 has been made.
On 12 December 2014, the AER made its determination on the 2015 AMI charges in accordance with the applicable Order in Council.
The charges allow AusNet Services to recover only those portions of its actual 2013 costs that the AER has determined to be prudent and efficient. The charges will take effect from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015. Unlike other distributors, AusNet Services will not charge its customers a manual meter fee in 2015.