Building trust and confidence

Compliance and enforcement of retail energy market laws, rules and regulations is how we build trust and confidence in Australia’s energy system.

Our compliance and enforcement team works to ensure those selling or supplying energy are following the obligations as set out in the National Energy Customer Framework.

Our Compliance and Enforcement Priorities help guide our enforcement work and proactive compliance efforts and also signal areas where we consider that behavioural change in the market is required. 

View the priorities for 2024-25

When taking action, we seek to stop unlawful conduct, hold non-compliant parties to account, educate and deter future non-compliance. We assess each matter on its own merits, taking into account all the relevant facts and circumstances.

Customer hardship

Under the Retail Law, authorised retailers must develop, maintain and implement customer hardship policies that requires them to identify residential customers experiencing payment difficulties due to hardship and assist them in better managing their energy bills on an ongoing basis. 

Our role is to approve is to approve a retailer’s hardship policy and monitor their performance in applying the policy. 

Policies, procedures and guidelines

Compliance and Enforcement Policy

We've set out our commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability in carrying out our compliance and enforcement work.

Customer Hardship Policy Guideline

Authorised retailers must develop, maintain and implement customer hardship policies that requires them to identify residential customers experiencing payment difficulties.

Compliance Procedures and Guidelines

We have set out what we expect from energy retailers to ensure they are complying with national energy retail law, rules and regulations.

Retail Pricing Information Guidelines

This document is the main regulatory instrument that set out how retailers must provide information about their plans. to customers as well as data to enable price comparisons. 

Recent reports and activity

View our latest enforcement matters, policies and guidelines, half-yearly reports, compliance checks and other documents relating to our retail compliance and enforcement activities. 

AGL: Breaches of the National Energy Retail Rules

The Federal Court has ordered AGL pay a $25M penalty after failing to inform and refund customers for overcharges obtained from Centrepay payments.
Type
Compliance reports
Sector
Electricity
Gas

Origin: Breaches of life support obligations

The Federal Court has ordered that Origin pay penalties totalling $12 million for breaches of its life support obligations under National Energy Retail Rules.
Type
Compliance reports
Sector
Electricity

Origin Energy Electricity Ltd: Alleged breaches of the National Energy Retail Rules

Origin Energy Electricity Ltd has paid two infringement notices totalling $135,600 issued by the AER.
Type
Compliance reports
Sector
Electricity
Gas

AER provides guidance to retailers following Better Bills Guideline compliance activities

The AER has written to retailers to provide guidance for compliance with the Better Bills Guideline (Version 2).
Type
Compliance reports
Sector
Electricity
Gas

Annual compliance and enforcement report 2023–24

The AER's annual compliance and enforcement report for 2023–24 details some of the significant compliance and enforcement actions undertaken during the period.
Type
Compliance reports
Sector
Electricity
Gas

Origin: Institution of proceedings against Origin subsidiaries for breaching life support obligations

The AER instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Origin Energy Electricity Limited, Origin Energy Retail Limited and Origin Energy LPG Limited.
Type
Compliance reports
Sector
Electricity