The Office of Energy advises the Government through the Minister for Energy on the Australian Energy Market Agreement (AEMA), an intergovernmental agreement. Aside from overseeing the operation of this agreement, the Office of Energy is involved in the implementation of commitments under this agreement and the representation of State interests.
The AEMA was signed on 11 December 2003 and amended in 2006 and 2009, and underpins the energy market reforms agreed to by the Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE). This has resulted in further reforms to the energy market in Australia and the establishment of new national energy governance and regulatory arrangements. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) regulates aspects of the Australian energy sector and Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) looks after market development and Rule changes.
The AER does not have jurisdiction in Western Australia as the Economic Regulation Authority regulates the electricity, gas, water and rail freight industries in this State. The AEMC is responsible for rule-making and, on request, provides strategic and operational advice to the MCE. Since 1 January 2010, the AEMC is responsible for rule making for gas pipeline access in Western Australia.
