On 2 May 2025, Ergon Energy submitted a waiver application under clause 5.2 of the Ring-fencing guideline (electricity distribution). Ergon Energy requested that the AER waive its obligation under clause 3.1 of the guideline, to allow Ergon Energy to install six battery energy storage systems and lease part of the battery capacity to a third- party for participation in wholesale energy market. These batteries are funded under the Stage 3 of Energy Queensland’s Local Network Battery Plan. The waiver is proposed to be valid until 30 June 2040. 

We invite stakeholders to provide written submissions on this waiver application.

Interested parties are invited to make written submissions to the AER regarding this waiver application by close of business, 22 August 2025.

Submissions should be sent electronically to AERringfencingaer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERringfencing[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au)
Alternatively, submissions can be mailed to:

Ms Stephanie Jolly 

Executive General Manager, Consumer, Policy and Markets Division 

Australian Energy Regulator 

GPO Box 520 Melbourne VIC 3001

The AER prefers that all submissions be publicly available to facilitate an informed and transparent consultative process. Submissions will be treated as public documents unless otherwise requested. Parties wishing to submit confidential information are requested to:

• clearly identify the information that is the subject of the confidentiality claim; and
• provide a non-confidential version of the submission in a form suitable for publication.

All non-confidential submissions will be placed on the AER's website at www.aer.gov.au. For further information regarding the AER's use and disclosure of information provided to it, see the ACCC/AER Information Policy, June 2014 available on the AER's website.

Enquiries about this paper, or about lodging submissions, should be directed to the Policy branch of the AER on 1300 585 165 or AERringfencingaer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERringfencing[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au)