Submission to the AER Stakeholder Engagement Framework

PIAC provided preliminary feedback to the AER’s review of its Stakeholder Engagement Framework. This is the first review to take place since the framework was developed in 2013. The Framework is based on four principles and aims to guide the AER’s engagement with stakeholders including consumers, consumer advocates, energy businesses and government. PIAC believes the Framework is essential in providing a pathway through which consumers can be heard in regulatory decision making. PIAC provided the AER with preliminary feedback on how the framework should be reviewed and the need for stronger emphasis on the AER to be proactive in its consumer engagement. In PIAC’s view, one measure of whether the Framework is operating effectively if analysis shows that energy consumers have a greater understanding of, and ability to influence, energy regulation within the National Energy Market (NEM).