AER approach to electricity network service provider exemptions Consultation paper - June 2011

In June 2011, the AER commenced consultation on revising the electricity NSP registration exemption guideline (network Guideline) and released a revised guideline and accompanying consultation paper.

The proposed revisions to the network Guideline reflected changes in the regulatory landscape and alignment with the classes of exemption contained in the AER Exempt Selling Guideline. The network Guideline is intended to provide affected parties with greater clarification and certainty in the requirements for exemption, for example by outlining the situations where an exemption is deemed, where an exemption must be registered and where an application for an individual exemption is required.

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. The AER has consulted on its approach to retail exemptions. The exempt selling guideline raises several issues which are also applicable to the network Guideline.