CPU provides additional information on its ring-fencing waiver application for EV charging infrastructure

The AER opened public consultation on the ring-fencing waiver application from CitiPower, Powercor, and United Energy (collectively referred to as CPU) for a waiver from clauses 3.1(b) and 4.2 of the Ring‑fencing guideline (electricity distribution). CPU seeks a waiver to run a trial to own, install and maintain 100 kerbside electric vehicle chargers in its distribution areas. We have released an accompanying consultation paper as part of this consultation.

The AER held three stakeholder workshops on CPU’s waiver application in the week commencing 5 May 2025. During these workshops CPU presented new information on its proposed operating model for the trial and responded to a variety of questions from stakeholders. CPU has provided a supplementary submission that outlines the additional information it provided in the workshops. This submission has been published on the AER’s website for stakeholders to consider as part of the current consultation on CPU’s waiver application.

We are seeking stakeholder views on the opportunities and risks of CPU, as a distribution network service provider (DNSP), owning, installing and maintaining EVCI in its network. These include the potential benefits to customers derived from CPU providing EVCI services versus the potential impacts on competition in the EV charging market. That is, we consider whether the costs of CPU complying with the guideline outweighs the benefits to consumers of compliance (including the benefits from the development of a competitive market).

We encourage stakeholders to provide written submissions.

Have your say

The AER invites stakeholders to provide written submissions by 13 June 2025.  Submissions and requests to make a submission via alternative methods should be emailed to AERringfencingaer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERringfencing[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).  

The AER prefers to make written submissions publicly available, to facilitate an informed and transparent consultative process. Written submissions will be treated as public documents unless otherwise requested.