Better regulation

On 10 December 2012, the AER released a Better regulation issues paper with more information on the guidelines and our plans for the consultation processes for each work stream.

Better regulation work program and the consultation process

On 18 December 2012, the AER held a video conference forum to discuss our Better regulation work program and the consultation process that we are planning. 

Rate of return guidelines

On 18 December 2012, the AER released its issues paper on the rate of return guidelines.

Rate of return guidelines

On 5 February 2013 the AER hosted its first forum on the rate of return guidelines .

Submissions to the AER's rate of return guidelines issues paper closed 15 February 2013.

Subgroups 1 & 2, workshop no. 1

On 25 and 26 February 2013, the AER held two workshops with stakeholders on rate of return matters pertaining to the cost of equity and the cost of debt. To assist organisations or individuals who did not attend the meetings, we have attached a high level summary of the discussions held, and separately the actions items that followed.

Revised target date for rate of return consultation paper

We had originally planned for the next step to be the publication of a consultation paper at the end of March. However, we have now formed the view that a better approach would be to revise the target date to the end of April to enable us to progress some agreed action items from the workshop. This includes additional discussions with our stakeholders on the principles that should underpin the rate of return guidelines.

The revised target date will enable us to have full regard to the extensive material we have received, in addition to the extra consultation we are now planning, prior to publishing our next consultation paper.

This revision does not affect the publication of the draft guideline that will still occur on 9 August 2013.

Rate of return guidelines

On 10 May 2013, the AER released the consultation paper on Rate of return guidelines for consultation as a part of the Better Regulation reform program 2013.

The Rate of return guidelines will set out how we intend to apply the new rules framework to set rates of return for network business that meet the long term interest of consumers. This will involve setting out high level regulatory criteria that will guide our assessment of methodologies, financial models, market data and other evidence to determine returns on equity and debt that make up the overall rate of return.

Submissions to the AER's rate of return consultation paper closed 21 June 2013

Rate of return consultation paper

In consideration of the length of the ENA’s submission on our rate of return consultation paper, and delay in receiving it, we requested the ENA to provide a concise consumer-friendly summary of their submission.