The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is Australia’s national energy market regulator and an independent statutory authority. The AER is funded by the Commonwealth with its staff, resources and facilities provided from the ACCC.
The AER sets the prices charged for energy networks (electricity poles/wires and gas pipelines) to transport energy to customers. The AER also monitors retail and wholesale energy markets and enforce the laws regulating those markets. The AER’s functions do not cover Western Australia or Northern Territory.
To find out more about the AER or contact the AER, please visit the AER website.
The ACCC’s roles in relation to energy markets arise only in the context of its roles under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. For example, the ACCC enforces the competition and consumer protection provisions in energy markets and it assesses energy mergers/ authorisations (eg authorisations for joint marketing by gas producers).
The ACCC does not regulate monopoly energy infrastructure any more, as these functions are now undertaken by the AER. However, prior to the AER being established in 2005, the ACCC had a range of functions in relation to electricity and gas infrastructure. Materials relevant to those old functions are available below.
