The AEMC has started consultation on rule change requests from the New South Wales distribution network businesses (Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy) and ActewAGL which would allow any revenue adjustments to be ‘smoothed’ and recovered from customers over several years, rather than in a single regulatory period.

In March 2016 the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) applied to the Federal Court for a judicial review of the Australian Competition Tribunal’s decisions on the NSW and ACT distribution businesses’ revenue determinations for the period 2014-2019. A decision on whether the AER will need to remake the determinations is expected in 2017. The rule change requests propose that any adjustments to the revenue allowances that may result from these proceedings be recovered over two regulatory periods, to minimise the volatility of customers’ electricity bills.

Stakeholders are invited to make submissions on the rule change request by 15 December 2016.