2026 | Compliance Quarter

Jun92026 by Connor JamesNo Comments

Victoria consults on lower prices for embedded network customers

Client Updates

The Victorian Government has opened consultation on proposed pricing reforms for embedded networks, following its announcement that it intends to require lower energy prices for households and small businesses in those networks. The consultation is relevant to residential and small commercial embedded network customers, embedded network operators, exempt sellers and suppliers, licensed retailers operating in embedded networks, owners corporations, retirement villages, caravan parks, shopping centres and providers of bundled energy-related services such as bulk hot water, centralised heating and cooling. The reforms have not yet been introduced as a Bill. At this stage, the process is a policy consultation led through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), with feedback intended to inform later policy and regulatory decisions. KEY DATE: Consultation closes at 11:59 pm on Thursday 2 July…

May162026 by Connor JamesNo Comments

Energy Retailer Assurance Audits in 2026: An Australian Guide

AU Energy Compliance

Assurance audits used to be a tick-the-box exercise. They are not anymore. With the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) refreshing its Compliance Procedures and Guidelines and releasing an updated Practice Guide for Compliance Audits last year energy retailers in Australia are operating in a sharper, more evidence-driven assurance environment than at any point in the National Energy Retail Law's history. This post explains, in plain English, what an assurance audit looks like under the current settings, where the AER is looking hardest in 2025/26, and how Australian energy retailers can prepare without burning out their compliance teams. What is an assurance audit, in the AER's words? An assurance audit is an independent review of an authorised retailer's compliance policies, procedures and systems and a sample of their operation in practice. The AER may either carry…

Mar12026 by Connor JamesNo Comments

Embracing the uncertainty of rapid advancement and adoption of general artificial intelligence for energy businesses

Client Updates

The way businesses and professionals interact with artificial intelligence has changed. Over the past two months, we have observed a shift across our client base and the broader regulatory and legal community that goes beyond curiosity or experimentation. Professionals who were previously sceptical are now actively engaging with AI tools. Those who were already experimenting are finding that the tools have become materially more capable than they were even six months ago. The cause is straightforward: AI models have increased in capacity and usefulness at a pace that has caught many off guard. The implications for energy retailers, compliance professionals, and every individual working in a regulated industry are worth examining carefully. AI capability is advancing rapidly and unevenly. The organisations and individuals who experiment safely and strategically now will…

Jan82026 by Connor JamesNo Comments

The AER’s Independence: Understanding What the Structural Separation Means for Energy Businesses

AU Energy Compliance

On 1 July 2026, just months from now, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) will formally separate from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, ending a longstanding administrative relationship that has defined energy regulation in Australia since the AER's establishment. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAY: The AER's structural independence strengthens its regulatory focus and creates opportunities for enhanced engagement with energy businesses. Whilst the separation is primarily administrative, it signals the AER's evolution into a fully independent, specialised energy regulator with dedicated resources, expertise, and strategic priorities focused solely on energy market regulation. While the AER's fundamental legal powers and regulatory mandate remain unchanged, the context within which the regulator exercises those powers is evolving in ways that warrant attention from regulated entities. The Historical Context of AER-ACCC Integration Understanding why separation is…

Jan72026 by Connor JamesNo Comments

How Regulatory Constraints Spark Innovation: Turning Compliance Challenges Into Competitive Advantages

Uncategorized

Conventional wisdom suggests that regulation stifles innovation. The narrative is familiar: compliance requirements drain resources, create bureaucratic friction, and constrain creative problem-solving. Yet the reality is far more nuanced. Throughout history, some of the most transformative innovations have emerged not despite regulatory constraints, but because of them. Understanding how constraints drive innovation can help compliance professionals and business leaders reframe regulatory obligations from burdensome requirements into catalysts for competitive advantage. The Paradox of Constraint-Driven Innovation Research into the relationship between regulation and innovation reveals a paradox. While overly restrictive or poorly designed regulations can indeed hamper progress, well-crafted regulatory constraints often stimulate innovation by: - Defining clear problems to solve: Regulations establish specific challenges that require creative solutions - Creating market differentiation: Organisations that solve compliance problems elegantly gain competitive…