On 12 August 2021 the AEMC published its Access, pricing and incentive arrangements for distributed energy resources final determination. The determination changes the energy rules with the aim of getting more small-scale solar into the grid, while supporting growth of batteries and electric vehicles. This included removing the prohibition on export tariffs, allowing networks to potentially propose to the AER that they be permitted to introduce two way pricing to match two-way energy flows on electricity networks.
As a result of this change, the AER is required to consult on and develop Export Tariff Guidelines that will provide information and guidance to distributors and other stakeholders about how networks will be required to justify any future proposals for two-way pricing and how they should define the basic export level, the no additional cost export service which networks must provide to all customers with rooftop solar.
Any two-way pricing arrangements will not be introduced immediately. Networks can only introduce export tariffs with their next TSS proposals, submitted to the AER for assessment every 5 years. A breakdown of when the next tariff proposals will take effect, by states/territories, is as follows.
- NSW, ACT, Tas, the NT: 2024, noting that networks cannot mandatorily assign customers to export tariffs before 2025
- SA, Qld: 2025
- Victoria: 2026
On 23 September 2021 the AER released a consultation paper seeking feedback on issues being considered as it develops the Export Tariff Guidelines. Submissions closed on 4 November 2021.
On 19 January 2022 the AER released the draft Export Tariff Guidelines and explanatory statement for consultation. Submissions closed on 8 March 2022.
On 19 May 2022, the AER released final Export Tariff Guidelines and explanatory statement.
On 26 August 2022, the AER published an exploratory paper on Network tariffs for the distributed energy future, written by Argyle Consulting and Endgame Economics, and invites submissions, by 7 October 2022, on the challenges and possible pathways presented in the paper.
On 21 December 2022, the AER published a summary paper which summarised responses to the exploratory paper.