Under the Retail Law, the AER will be responsible for issuing and revoking retailer authorisations. Unless exempt from the requirement, a person must hold a retailer authorisation prior to engaging in the retail sale of energy. To support this role, the AER is required to develop a guideline to assist applicants to understand the process for obtaining energy retailer authorisations, and for the transfer, surrender or revocation of retailer authorisations.
On 28 July 2011, the AER released the final version of the Retailer Authorisation Guideline.
Information on the development of the guideline can be viewed here.
As advised by the MCE Standing Committee of Officials Bulletin No. 191, dated 12 April 2011, the transition of existing retailers (those holding a state or territory retail licence in a participating jurisdiction on 12 April 2011) will be determined by jurisdictions and implemented through application legislation.
Any retailer that is granted a jurisdictional licence after 12 April 2011 who wishes to retail energy beyond 1 July 2012 will need to apply to the AER for a national retailer authorisation (or exemption). The AER will start accepting applications for authorisation from 3 October 2011.
