The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has released the outcomes of its latest compliance audits under the National Energy Retail Law (Retail Law).
Momentum Energy, Mojo Power, Ergon Energy Queensland, Endeavour Energy, Evoenergy and Essential Energy each carried out an audit to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of their compliance policies, systems and procedures in relation to life support obligations under the Retail Law and the National Energy Retail Rules (Retail Rules).
Ensuring retailers and distributors protect their customers using life support equipment is a compliance and enforcement priority for the AER. An unexpected loss of supply for life support customers could have dangerous or even fatal outcomes.
The audits identified a number of areas in which businesses can strengthen and improve their management of important life support obligations. The AER is now working with each retailer and distributor to monitor the implementation of the recommendations.
Compliance audits are an important part of the AER’s compliance monitoring program. Our next compliance audits are already underway, and focus on the provision of accurate and timely retail performance information to the AER, which is critical to the AER’s economic or market monitoring functions.
Background
Retailers and distributors must establish and implement policies, systems and procedures to enable them to efficiently and effectively monitor their compliance with the requirements of the Retail Law and Retail Rules.
The Retail Law allows the AER to require a retailer or distributor to carry out a compliance audit in respect of its compliance with the Retail Law, Retail Rules and Regulations, or to engage an auditor to conduct an audit on behalf of the AER, and recover the cost of that audit from the relevant retailer or distributor.
Compliance audits are one of many compliance monitoring tools used by the AER to ensure energy consumers are receiving the protections they are entitled to under the Retail Law and Rules. You can read more about our approach to compliance and enforcement in the AER Compliance and Enforcement Policy.