The ACCC and AER have roles in promoting competition in network industries: communications, energy, bulk water, post and transport.
Prices oversight and regulatory arrangements to secure third–party access to ‘essential’ services are necessary to curb the market power of monopoly infrastructure. Administering access regimes for monopoly infrastructure assets is a major area of regulation.
The regulatory area of the ACCC is also involved in monitoring and inquiring into prices of selected goods and services. The products and sectors monitored are diverse. Monitoring the national electricity market (NEM) is a responsibility of the AER. In addition, the AER has a compliance and enforcement role in the NEM and is taking on a new role in the retail energy market. The Communications Group and the Water branch also have industry specific enforcement roles. Further, the new area of ACCC regulation, water, has a rule development role.
Infrastructure Consultative Committee
The Infrastructure Consultative Committee (ICC) was set up in 2006 to facilitate discussions on the broad issues of infrastructure and infrastructure regulation.
Network
Network is a quarterly publication which provides regular updates from regulators about regulatory issues.
Regulatory Observer
A monthly newsletter providing information and updates about international (focusing on the OECD) and Australian regulatory developments and decisions.
