The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has today released two draft exemption guidelines and accompanying papers in relation to network registration and retail onselling. While the consultation for each guideline takes place under a different legislative framework, the AER has aligned these processes as there are a number of synergies in many situations such as caravan parks, apartments and shopping centres.
Under the National Electricity Rules, any party that engages in an electricity transmission or distribution activity must either be registered with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) as a network service provider, or be exempted by the AER from this requirement. The AER’s network service provider registration exemption guideline outlines classes of electricity transmission or distribution activities which will be exempt from the obligation to be registered as a network service provider with AEMO. The draft guideline and issues paper have been published on the AER's website. The AER is now consulting on these papers in accordance with the consultation procedures set out in clause 2.5.1(e) of the National Electricity Rules.
Under the National Energy Retail Law, a person wishing to sell energy must hold a retailer authorisation, or be exempt from that requirement. The AER’s exempt selling guideline outlines classes of onselling activities which will be exempt from the requirement to hold a retailer authorisation under the National Energy Retail Law. It also outlines situations where an onseller should seek an individual exemption from the AER. The draft guideline and notice have been published on the AER's website. The AER is now consulting on these papers in accordance with the retail consultation procedure set out in clause 173 of the National Energy Retail Rules. These documents form the last round of consultation prior to release of the final exempt selling guideline, which is expected to be released later this year.
The AER invites written submissions on both guidelines by Friday 12 August 2011. Submissions should be sent to AERInquiry
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERInquiry[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au) with “submission to network and retail exemption guidelines” in the subject line. The AER requests that where a submission covers both guidelines, it is clear which guideline each comment refers to.
The AER will hold a public forum to discuss network registration exemptions and retail exemptions on Wednesday 27 July 2011. The forum will be convened from Melbourne, with video conference links to all capital cities in participating jurisdictions. For those in Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne and Canberra, the time will be 1pm to 5pm. For those in Adelaide, the time will be 12.30pm to 4.30pm.
To register your attendance, please send an email to AERInquiryaer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERInquiry[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au) by 13 July 2011, indicating the city in which you will attend. The subject of the email should state “Registration for Retail and Networks Exemptions stakeholder forum: attention Pip Dodgson”. Registration for the forum is essential as spaces are limited. Stakeholders are asked to nominate no more than one participant each. An agenda for the forum will be circulated after registrations have closed.