On 10 October 2019, the AEMC published the self-initiated Minor changes 2019 rule change proposal.  

The rule change proposal was initiated by the AEMC to correct minor errors and make non-material changes to the National Electricity Rules (NER), National Gas Rules (NGR) and National Energy Retail Rules (NERR) to improve their quality.  As with previous AEMC initiated rules, these minor corrections and non-material changes make the rules clearer to stakeholders.

For the changes to the NERR this included amending the model terms and conditions for standard retail contracts (and requires retailers to update their standard retail contracts accordingly) to align with a retailer’s existing obligation that if a small customer requests, in reviewing an energy bill, that the meter be tested or meter reading checked, the test or check (as relevant) must be undertaken and the retailer may only recover the cost from the customer if the check or test shows that the meter or metering data was not faulty or incorrect.  

Submissions to the rule change proposal closed on 7 November 2019. The Commission did not receive any submissions. 

The Commission undertook an expedited process for this rule change proposal as it was considered non-controversial. Under an expedited rule making process, a final rule determination must be made within eight weeks of the initiation of the process under the uniform energy rules, and for changes to the NGR that apply to Western Australia within six weeks of the start of the rule change process.  The AEMC did not receive any objections to it assessing the rules under the expedited rule making process.

The AEMC has made a final rule determination to make the Minor changes 2019.

Background

On 10 October 2019, the AEMC gave notice under sections 95 and 96(1)(a) of the National Electricity Law, sections 303 and 304(1)(a) of the National Gas Law, and 251 and 252 of the National Energy Retail Law of its intention to initiate the proposed National Electricity Amendment (Minor Changes) Rule 2019, National Gas Amendment (Minor Changes) Rule 2019, and the National Energy Retail Amendment (Minor Changes) Rule 2019 under the expedited Rule making process.