On 15 August 2016, the Australian Energy Regulator called for submissions on its Draft Ring-fencing Guideline. Submissions on the draft Guideline were due by 28 September 2016. We received around 30 submissions on the draft Guideline.

On 9 November 2016, we released an exposure draft of the Guideline. We received 18 submissions on the exposure draft of the Guideline.

Submissions to our Draft Guideline closed 28 September 2016.

In response to our Draft Guideline we received submissions from 30 stakeholders. We held a workshop in Sydney on 27 October 2016 to discuss the submissions we received. The workshop was structured around the key issues raised in submissions.

This paper has been prepared for stakeholder information only. Formal submissions are not requested. However, we will make our best endeavours to consider any comments received by 28 October 2016 and respond in the explanatory statement to accompany our Final Guideline. Submissions on the information paper are now be closed.

On 9 November 2016 we published an exposure draft of our proposed Electricity Distribution Ring-fencing Guideline (the Exposure Draft) .

Changes to the Exposure Draft compared with Draft Guideline (published 15 August 2016) are summarised below.

Changes from the Draft Guideline

• Terminology changes to improve clarity. A definitions section is included in the guideline.
• Waivers from legal separation obligations are now permitted. The explanatory statement to the final guideline will describe when we are likely to grant waivers, such as in regard to other regulated services or services offered by DNSPs where there is a legal obligation.
• Waivers can now be sought for cross promotion and co-branding. These changes are consequential to other changes for legal separation waivers and staff sharing.
• Barriers to staff / office sharing remain but DNSPs may share staff or offices in circumstances where doing so will not compromise its compliance with the guideline. Where staff / offices are shared under this provision, the DNSP must maintain public registers to provide transparency.
• Interim waivers—may be sought, if necessary, while we undertake waiver assessments.
• DNSPs must comply with all of the guideline’s obligations as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than 1 January 2018.

We asked that submissions in response to the exposure draft of the guideline be focused on critical issues that will affect the Guideline's operability. Submissions closed on 16 November 2016. We thank all parties who provided submissions. Submissions are available to view below.