AER Review of the exemptions framework for embedded networks - Notice of final decision - August 2025

On 29 August 2025 we published our final decision for our review of the exemptions framework for embedded networks, alongside the revised Network Exemptions Guideline and Retail Exempt Selling Guideline (versions 7).

Our final decision acknowledges that all energy customers should have a comparable level of consumer protections, to the extent possible, regardless of their energy supplier. However, to achieve this, jurisdictional governments will need to act, to address consumer protection gaps outside the scope of the AER’s regulatory powers.

The accompanying guidelines include several new conditions or measures to address the issues we identified through the review. These include: 

• new requirements for all exempt entities to keep key registration details up to date
• measures to increase our oversight of smaller embedded networks
• strengthened consumer protections, including introducing new family violence protections for residential and small business customers
• requirements for some exempt sellers to publish their customer tariffs
• new obligations for some exempt sellers to include ombudsman scheme contact details on customer bills.