The Retailer of Last Resort (RoLR) scheme is established under the National Energy Retail Law to protect customers if their energy retailer fails. The RoLR scheme ensures that customers continue to receive energy without interruption by transferring them to a new retailer.
The AER is responsible for maintaining and administering the RoLR framework, including publishing and maintaining the RoLR guidelines and RoLR plan, appointing and registering RoLRs, and designating RoLRs during a RoLR event.
Recent amendments to the National Energy Retail Law have strengthened the RoLR framework. These changes aim to simplify processes, clarify obligations and improve how the scheme operates in practice. The AER has updated the RoLR guidelines and plan to reflect these changes and consolidate them into a single, streamlined document.
Consultation process
In developing the updated RoLR guidelines and plan, we undertook consultation with stakeholders across the energy sector.
This included engagement with retailers, distributors and consumer groups through targeted meetings, workshops and written submissions. Stakeholder feedback informed key changes to improve the clarity, flexibility and practical operation of the RoLR scheme.
Draft determination
We released the draft RoLR guidelines and plan for consultation on 18 March 2026 and closed it on 17 April 2026. We received 7 written and 1 verbal response to the consultation.
View the draft and more information
Final determination
The AER has finalised revisions to the RoLR guidelines and plan. This took effect on 18 June 2026.
The notice of final instrument outlines how we considered stakeholder feedback.
Changes in the final document include:
- amending the 72-hour designation process in the guidelines to clarify that it may be used in extenuating circumstances for electricity RoLR events
- adding an email notification into the RoLR plan to notify relevant parties ahead of the RoLR notice in the event of a 72-hour designation process
- providing more flexibility in some timeframes and notification requirements for designated contracts.