Australian Energy Regulator
AER
1 July 2005 – present
Economic regulator of electricity and gas networks and markets in eastern and southern Australia, setting network revenues, monitoring wholesale markets and enforcing national energy laws and retail rules.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 July 2005 under Part IIIAA of the Trade Practices Act 1974 following Council of Australian Governments energy market reforms, constituted within the ACCC and taking over the ACCC's regulation of electricity transmission networks; it later took economic regulation of distribution networks from state regulators.
- Electricity transmission network regulation
Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 Part IIIAA (formerly Trade Practices Act 1974); National Electricity Law; National Gas Law; National Energy Retail Law
Changes during its life
- 2008Took over economic regulation of electricity distribution networks from state and territory regulators in the National Electricity Market jurisdictions.
- 1 July 2012The National Energy Retail Law began to apply, giving the AER retail energy market regulation in participating jurisdictions.
- 2025The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Act 2025 made the AER a standalone statutory agency independent of the ACCC, in the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio.
- Gas transmission pipeline regulation
Gas pipeline regulation moved to the AER when the National Gas Law commenced.
Main functions
- Revenue regulation of electricity transmission and distribution networks
- Regulation of gas transmission and distribution pipelines
- Monitoring and enforcement of wholesale electricity and gas markets
- Regulation of energy retail markets under the National Energy Retail Law
- Setting the default market offer for electricity
- Running the Energy Made Easy price comparison service
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Accountable authority
- AER members – Competition and Consumer Act 2010 section 44AE(1A)(b) as amended by Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Act 2025
- ABN
- 18 105 599 265
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance) (as Australian Energy Regulator (AER))
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to 29 May 2025)
Government records and websites
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.