Ministerial Council on Energy

The Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) was established by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in2001 to deliver the economic and environmental benefits for Australia from implementation of the COAG national energy policy framework.

The MCE is the national policy and governance body for the Australian energy market, including for electricity and gas, as outlined in the COAG Australian Energy Market Agreement (AEMA) of 30 June 2004.

The Council's objectives, as agreed by COAG are:

• To provide national oversight and coordination of policy development to address the opportunities and challenges facing Australia's energy sector into the future.
• To provide national leadership so that consideration of broader convergence issues and environmental impacts are effectively integrated into energy sector decision-making.

The Council comprises Ministers with responsibility for energy from the Australian Government and all States and.

For more information the role of the MCE or on national energy reform, refer to the MCE website at www.mce.gov.au .

Energy Market Reform

In 2003 the MCE agreed to a package of reforms to Australia's energy market covering:

• governance and institutions
• economic regulation
• electricity transmission
• user participation
• gas market development.

For an update on the national energy reform programs and expected timeframes, refer to the MCE website at www.mce.gov.au .

Energy Regulatory Bodies

There are various regulatory bodies which have responsibility for regulating the energy sector.

The AEMC is the body responsible for energy market rule-making and market development at the national level.

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) performs economic regulation of the wholesale electricity market and electricity transmission networks in the National Electricity Market (NEM). It is also responsible for the enforcement of the National Electricity Law and National Electricity Rules.

The Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) has the regulatory responsibility of pricing and access for electricity distribution networks in South Australia. ESCOSA is also the local regulator responsible for applying the Code to the gas distribution system in South Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is currently the access regulator for gas transmission pipelines across all of Australia except Western Australia.

AEMC

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG), through its Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE), established the Australian Energy Market Commission in July 2005 to be the Rule maker for national energy markets.

The AEMC is a national body, established under the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment Act 2004 (South Australia) .

The AEMC is currently responsible for Rules and policy advice covering the National Electricity Market (NEM). This role does not currently include electricity distribution or retail regulation.

It is expected that the National Gas Rules (once finalised) will also become the responsibility of the AEMC.

For more detail on the AEMC, refer to the AEMC website at www.aemc.gov.au .

AER

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) performs economic regulation of the wholesale electricity market and electricity transmission networks in the National Electricity Market (NEM), and enforcement of the National Electricity Law and National Electricity Rules.

The AER is to be the designated regulator for gas transmission pipelines in all states and territories (except WA) and for transmission and distribution pipelines in the Northern Territory. The enabling legislation to transfer the Australian Compeitition and Consumer Commission's current functions in this area to the AER has yet to be enacted The functions to be transferred to the AER are expected to include:

• consideration and approval of access arrangements submitted by service providers under the National Third Party Access Code for Natural Gas Pipeline Systems
• monitoring and enforcing reference tariffs, ring-fencing, incentive regulation and other access arrangement provisions
• arbitrating disputes relating to the terms and conditions of access
• overseeing competitive tendering processes for new transmission pipelines
• contributing to the ongoing refinement of the national framework for access to transmission and distribution infrastructure in the gas industry.

For more detail on the AER, refer to the AER website at www.aer.gov.au .

ACCC

The Australian Compeitition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is currently the regulator for gas transmission pipelines in all states and territories (except WA) and for transmission and distribution pipelines in the Northern Territory. Enabling legislation to transfer the ACCC's current functions in this area to the AER has yet to be enacted.

For more detail on the role of the ACCC, refer to the ACCC website at www.accc.gov.au .

NCC

The NCC's role in gas reform includes:

• recommendations on applications for certification  of access regimes for gas pipelines services
• recommendations on coverage (and revocation of coverage) of particular gas pipelines under the National Gas Code 
• recommendations on applications to declare gas pipeline services for access declaration 
• assessments  of governments' progress in implementing NCP, including implementation of NCP gas reforms.

For further information on the NCC, refer to www.ncc.gov.au .

ESCOSA

The Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) was established under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 (ESC Act), which came into effect on 12 September 2002.

Under the ESC Act, ESCOSA has a number of functions, including:

• regulate prices and perform licensing and other functions under relevant industry regulation Acts (including the Electricity and Gas Acts)
• monitor and enforce compliance with and promote improvement in standards and conditions of service and supply under relevant industry regulation Acts
• make, monitor the operation of, and review from time to time, codes and rules relating to the conduct or operations of a regulated industry or regulated entities
• provide and require consumer consultation processes in regulated industries and assist consumers and others with information and other services.

In performing these functions, the Commission has as its primary objective the protection of the long term interests of South Australian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services.

For more detail on ESCOSA, refer to the ESCOSA website at www.escosa.sa.gov.au .

Energy Industry Ombudsman SA

The South Ausralian Energy Industry Ombudsman SA (EIOSA) can investigate and resolve disputes between customers and electricity and gas companies. For more information on the EIOSA refer to www.eiosa.com.au .