Clean Energy Regulator
CER
2 April 2012 – present
Statutory agency that administers Australia's main emissions measurement and reduction schemes: the Renewable Energy Target, National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting, the Safeguard Mechanism, the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme and the national emissions registry.
How it came into existence
Established on 2 April 2012 under the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011, merging the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator and the Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer and taking over the Carbon Farming Initiative and the national emissions units registry from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
- Renewable Energy Target administration
- National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting
- Carbon Farming Initiative administration
- Australian National Registry of Emissions Units
Legislation: Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011
Changes during its life
- 1 July 2012Began administering the carbon pricing mechanism, which was repealed with effect from 1 July 2014.
- 25 March 2013Moved with climate change to the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education portfolio when the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency was abolished.
- 18 September 2013Moved to the Department of the Environment portfolio.
- 19 July 2016Continued in the portfolio of the new Department of the Environment and Energy.
- 1 February 2020Moved to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio.
- 1 July 2022Moved to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio.
Main functions
- Administration of the Renewable Energy Target
- National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting
- Safeguard Mechanism
- Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme (formerly the Emissions Reduction Fund)
- Australian National Registry of Emissions Units
- Carbon pricing mechanism (2012–2014)
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
- Chair of the Regulator – Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011 section 11(2)(b)
- ABN
- 72 321 984 210
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))