Our role

Our role

The AER is responsible for the economic regulation of electricity transmission and distribution networks and gas transmission and distribution pipelines in all Australian jurisdictions except Western Australia.

Our role is to ensure that consumers pay no more than necessary for network infrastructure, which is charged to them as network and distribution costs in their electricity and gas bills. 

Network businesses submit revenue proposals to us and we make decisions based on factors including projected demand for electricity and natural gas, age of infrastructure, operating and financial costs and network reliability and safety standards. We review and approved annual pricing proposals and tariff variations in line with revenue determinations.

We also monitor network performance and network service compliance with national energy legislation. We take enforcement action when there is potential or actual harm to consumers.

Tariff reform

We are focused on network tariff reform that will allow distributed energy resources, such as solar PV, batteries and electric vehicles, to be integrated onto the grid as efficiently as possible.

 

Learn more about tariff reform

Gas pipeline regulation

All gas pipelines in Australia are classified as either scheme pipelines, which are subject to full regulation, or non-scheme pipelines, which are subject to light regulation.

The AER is responsible for determining whether the form of regulation of a pipeline should change. We conduct a regulation review and apply a test that considers the effect that fully or lightly regulating a gas pipeline will have on access to the pipeline, the businesses that use it and the impact to end users. 

Our pipeline determination role

In this section

For information on our work in network tariff reform and renewable energy zones, go to strategic initiatives.

Determinations and access arrangements

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View current proposals and final AER decisions on the maximum amount of revenue that network businesses can earn from consumers over a 5-year period.

Pricing proposals and tariff variations

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We review annual pricing proposals submitted by electricity distribution businesses and annual tariff variations submitted by gas networks.

Cost allocation methods

Decision type
Network service providers must prescribe how they will allocate their costs between their different categories of services.

Service providers and assets

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View a list of network service providers, gas and electricity assets, regulated and unregulated, in all states and territories except Western Australia.

Network exemptions

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An operator of a private electricity network needs to be registered with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) or apply to us for a network exemption.

Non-scheme pipelines

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Operators of non-scheme pipelines are required to publish information about their pipeline or seek an exemption from us. We publish a register of exemptions.

Compliance and enforcement

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We monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with national energy legislation to ensure consumers have access to safe and reliable energy networks.

Networks performance reporting

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We collect and publish data from network businesses that allow us to monitor the reliability and affordability of transmission and distribution networks.

Ring-fencing

Decision type
Learn more about ring-fencing which separates regulated and competitive business activities and our role in issuing ring-fencing waivers.

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