Compliance & Enforcement

The AER's 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.

The priorities align with the objectives in the AER Strategic Plan 2020–25, specifically objectives 1-3, to:

1. Protect vulnerable consumers, while enabling consumers to participate in energy markets.
2. Effectively regulate competitive markets primarily through monitoring and reporting, and enforcement and compliance.
3. Deliver efficient regulation of monopoly infrastructure while incentivising networks to become platforms for energy services.

Priorities

The priorities should be read in conjunction with the AER Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

The policy sets out how we approach our compliance and enforcement roles and functions in accordance with the national energy laws. In addition to our work in priority areas, we will continue to act where there are serious issues impacting consumers experiencing vulnerability, including life support consumers and consumers affected by family violence. The AER will also continue to help shape new or emerging markets and to implement new guidance. We will continue to assess matters having regard to the Compliance and Enforcement Policy and take action where justified. We will also progress important ongoing work in areas previously identified as priority areas.

	Improve outcomes for customers experiencing vulnerability, including by improving access to retailer hardship and payment plan protections.
	Make it easier for consumers to understand their plan and engage in the market by focusing on compliance with billing and pricing information obligations including the Better Bills Guideline.
	Support power system security and an efficient wholesale electricity market by focusing on generators’ compliance with offers, dispatch instructions, bidding behaviour obligations and providing accurate and timely capability information to AEMO.
	Improve market participants’ compliance with performance standards and standards for critical infrastructure.
	Clarify obligations and monitor compliance with reporting requirements under the new Gas Market Transparency Measures.