In 2003 the Ministerial Council on Energy agreed to a package of reforms to Australia's energy market covering governance and institutions, economic regulation, electricity transmission, user participation and gas market development. Further details on these initiatives are set out in the MCE Communiqué of 11 December 2003
[PDF, 89KB] and the associated MCE Report to CoAG on Reform of Energy Markets
[PDF, 237KB].
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)
Information on the work programme for the establishment of AEMO. Links to related initiatives:
National Transmission Planner
Short Term Trading Market and Bulletin Board
Smart Meters
Information on work programme for smart meters.
Governance and Institutions
Information on legislative and regulatory arrangements, the development of the industry levy, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
Economic Regulation
The key activity under this workstream is the development of a National Framework for Electricity and Gas Distribution and Retail Regulation.
Electricity Transmission
Information on the transmission work program under the categories of transmission planning and network investment, regional structures and network performance, and economic regulation.
Consumer Advocacy
Information on improving user participation and further developing consumer advocacy arrangements in the Australian energy market.
Gas Market Development
Information on the expanded gas market program and the development of gas market principles.
Retail Policy Working Group
Information on the work program for the development of the National Energy Customer Framework package to complete the transfer to the AEMC and AER of national distribution and retail energy regulation functions.
Energy Technical and Safety
Information and key documents on the harmonisation of energy technical and safety regulation.
Energy Market Reform Bulletins are released to keep stakeholders informed of key developments and consultation arrangements during the implementation of the energy market reform program.