The AER has released its Strategic Plan 2026-2030 which sets out our direction and priorities for the next five years as Australia’s energy system continues to transform.
Consumers remain at the heart of our decision making and this is demonstrated in our ongoing, unchanged purpose: the AER exists to ensure energy consumers are better off, now and in the future.
This purpose is reflected in our vision, which is to be a high performing regulator that:
- acts independently, with openness and accountability
- stewards and builds trust in Australia’s energy system
- takes considered risks
- innovates, adapts and is data driven
- engages actively with consumers and stakeholders.
Our decision making is organised around three key outcomes.
- Energy will be more affordable
- The lights will stay on
- The energy transition will progress.
These are not mutually exclusive outcomes. In many cases, they will reinforce one another. In others, decisions will involve genuine tensions between immediate costs, longer-term investment, reliability and the pace of change.
For the next five years our work will be shaped by 12 strategic objectives. These objectives are not intended to describe what we do, but rather the regulatory posture underpinning our efforts.
Several of these objectives reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting consumers and ensuring they can access the benefits of the transition. Others highlight the importance of effective regulation as markets and the energy system transform, while also acknowledging our need to minimise regulatory burden on the sector.