The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) regulates electricity networks and covered gas pipelines in all jurisdictions except Western Australia. The AER sets the amount of revenue that network businesses can recover from customers for using these networks. The AER also enforces the laws for the National Electricity Market (NEM) and spot gas markets in southern and eastern Australia, as well as monitoring and reporting on the conduct of market participants and the effectiveness of competition.
(AER) has opened consultation on its first trial waiver
The Regulatory Sandboxing trial waiver function allows the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to grant a time limited trial waiver for eligible trial projects, exempting an innovator from having to comply with specified rules for a period of time to allow a trial to proceed. The Victorian Regulatory Sandboxing trial waiver function allows Essential Services Commission (ESC) to issue trial waivers providing time limited relief from Victorian energy frameworks. For more information, please see our trials page and the AER's Trial Projects Guidelines.
application through the newly launched Energy Innovation Toolkit.
The AER today released a Consultation Notice seeking views on Endeavour Energy’s waiver application. The application seeks a waiver from certain regulatory requirements to facilitate smart meter replacements in parts of NSW that would enable the delivery of load management services.
The Consultation Notice outlines the application, including details of the proposed trial, Endeavour’s assessment of the merits against the innovative trial principles
Under the Energy Rules, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is required to consider innovative trial principles in determining whether a trial project is “genuinely innovative” and therefore may be considered for a trial waiver.
, and questions for consultation.
Have your say
We welcome submissions from interested parties on Endeavour Energy’s trial waiver application by close of business, 6 June 2023. Written submissions or requests to make a submission via alternative methods (e.g. through a meeting with AER staff) should be emailed to regulatorysandbox@aer.gov.au.
Background
This new trial function is part of the AER’s commitment to regulatory sandboxing
A Regulatory Sandboxing mechanism is a framework within which participants can test innovative concepts in the market under relaxed regulatory requirements at a smaller scale, on a time-limited basis and with appropriate safeguards in place. Regulatory Sandboxing mechanisms usually also offer enquiry services, which provide innovators with informal guidance on existing regulation. The Energy Innovation Toolkit is a Regulatory Sandboxing mechanism.
, which aims to help energy innovators and start-ups navigate complex regulatory frameworks and enable the trial of new products and services that will deliver greater choice and cheaper options for consumers.
