The National Electricity Consumers Advocacy Panel was established in 2001 to grant funds to representatives of domestic and business electricity consumers for advocacy on the development of the national electricity market and the National Electricity Rules.

In 2008, as a result of an amendment to the AEMC Establishment Act, the Panel was reconstituted as the Consumer Advocacy Panel with responsibility for granting funding for advocacy and research on electricity and natural gas issues. more

Meeting dates 2009
The Panel meets regularly to consider applications for grant funding - the meeting dates for 2009 are shown below.

To be considered at its next meeting, applications for funding should be submitted to the Executive Director at info@advocacypanel.com.au as soon as possible and no later than the deadline for the meeting.

Deadline for applications                        Meeting date
   

    15 May                                                   2 June

    19 June                                                  8 July

    24 July                                                  13 August

    21 August                                              10 September

    25 September                                        13 October

    23 October                                            12 November

    20 November                                         10 December

1. Gas prices: a grant of up to $35,000 (exc GST) to produce a report outlining the likely scenarios and impact of increased gas prices in the NEM;
2. Rural energy issues in NSW and Queensland : a grant of up to $65,000 (exc GST) to undertake research on rural and regional energy consumer issues in NSW and Queensland.

Grant applications close 19 June 2009.

At its meeting on 8 April 2009, the Consumer Advocacy Panel approved a new funding model for more established consumer organisations with existing experience and expertise. The Panel intends to trial and evaluate the model in 2009/10 with the Major Energy Users Inc (MEU) and the Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA).

The new approach helps established advocates develop a pipeline of projects relating to decisions of importance to their members or constituency, and reduces the administrative burden for applicants.

The Panel's announcement provides details on the features of the model.

The Ministerial Council on Energy has approved a total budget of $2,767,294 (exclusive of GST) for the Consumer Advocacy Panel for 2009/10. That total budget incorporates $2,195,294 for the electricity component funded by NEMMCO, and $572,000 for the gas component, provided by the Australian Energy Market Commission.

A memo to Panel stakeholders outlining the program allocations is available here.

T he Panel has released a discussion paper outlining the Panel-initiated research agenda, detailing the purpose and criteria for determining research projects. The Paper also proposes some priority research projects for consideration by the Panel's key stakeholders.

The Panel invites stakeholders to comment on the identified priorities, including putting forward other preferred projects - and the rationale for that change - where they believe there are other projects of greater assistance to consumer advocacy organisations.

While the Panel will finalise the research agenda at its next meeting on 14 May 2009, it also invites interested organisations to submit a grant application to undertake the research priorities of gas pricing and rural consumer issues.

The Panel requests feedback from stakeholders be received by close of business 1 May 2009.

Submissions should be directed to the Panel's Executive Director, Kerry Connors , at info@advocacypanel.com.au .

The Consumer Advocacy Panel  is seeking grant applications for projects  that build the capacity of consumer advocacy organisations to participate in policy and regulatory decisions, including funding of staff, for consideration at its meeting on 8 April 2009.

While projects have  usually focused on the funding of staff members (full and part time), the Panel  also  invites consumer advocacy organisations to propose other models or mechanisms to build capacity  in their organisation.

Applications for funding should be submitted by close of business  20 March 2009. Grant applications should be submitted electronically to info@advocacypanel.com.au using the application form here.

Please go to the "How to Apply" pages on this website for a copy of the grant guidelines and eligibility criteria.  If you have any questions, or wish to discuss your application, please contact Kerry Connors, Executive Director, at info@advocacypanel.com.au 

In accordance with the AEMC Establishment Act Regulations 2005 , the Consumer Advocacy Panel must consult with stakeholders on the preparation of its draft budget, including by publishing it on the website, at least 4 weeks before the budget is finalised for submission to the Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE).  The Panel is seeking comment from stakeholders on the Draft 2009/10 Budget by close of business 24 October 2008 .

Submissions on the Panel should be sent by email to info@advocacypanel.com.au .  Any questions should be directed to the Panel's Executive Director, Kerry Connors , by email to kerry.connors@advocacypanel.com.au or by phone at 02 8296 7880.

As from 1 September 2008 the Panel's office will operate from new premises in Sydney and the Melbourne office will be closed   Click here for contact details.

As a result of feedback from SCO, the Panel has revised guideline 2.2.3 so the requirements for obtaining quotes from consultants conform with government procurement guidelines.  The revised guidelines await approval from the MCE.

On 14 July the Panel sought comments from stakeholders on a report it commissioned from ACIL Tasman which sought to identify the major consumer classes, their interests and current involvement in market issues, and any gaps or overlaps in advocacy. The objective of the project is to assist the Panel in considering how its funding budget ought to be allocated in order to best promote the interests of consumers. Responses were received from the Consumer Action Law Centre, Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, Australian Council of Social Service, Major Energy Users Inc, and Total Environment Centre.
The Panel has deferred further consideration of the project pending comment from ACIL Tasman on the responses.

Ms Kerry Connors has been appointed Executive Director of the Consumer Advocacy Panel and will take up the appointment on 1 September 2008.

Following consultation with stakeholders, the Panel has published a report on the advocacy and research agenda for 2008/2009 that will provide guidance to its grant allocations.

At its meeting on 26 June 2008 the Panel resolved that modified grant allocation criteria and application guidelines resulting from recent consultation with stakeholders be forwarded to the MCE for approval and that a report on the consultation be posted for the information of stakeholders.

On 1 July 2008, the Consumer Advocacy Panel was established by the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment Act 2004, as amended, to replace the Advocacy Panel. The current members of the Panel continue in office in accordance with the Act.

The content of the website will soon be amended to reflect the provisions of the Act.

The panel seeks comments from stakeholders on proposed grant allocation criteria and application guidelines that it will submit to the Ministerial Council on Energy for approval for use after the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment (Consumer Advocacy Panel) Amendment Act, 2007 commences.

Stakeholders are invited to make submissions on the proposed guidelines which should be forwarded to info@advocacypanel.com.au by 5 pm on 11 June 2008.

In late 2006, the panel undertook consultation with stakeholders on revised funding criteria and application guidelines (guidelines) which resulted in the submission to the AEMC in February 2007 of proposed new guidelines.  The AEMC deferred approval of the guidelines pending inclusion of information on how the effectiveness of funded projects could be evaluated.

In May 2007, the panel commenced consultation with stakeholders on a process for evaluating the effectiveness of projects which resulted in the publishing in October 2007 of a proposed evaluation process.  After considering comments by stakeholders, in January 2008 the panel published the final evaluation process and in February 2008 forwarded to the AEMC for its approval guidelines amended to include the evaluation process. 

On 10 April 2008, the AEMC advised that it had approved the amended guidelines subject to their amendment to include the latest wording of the national electricity objective that commenced on 1 January 2008.  The guidelines are now published for the information of stakeholders.

In October 2007 the panel invited stakeholders to provide comments on a process for evaluating the effectiveness of projects.  The panel appreciated the responses from stakeholders and has now determined the process that will be followed.

The objectives of the evaluation process are:

• To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of advocacy by providing specific feedback and guidance to applicants whose work is evaluated and by providing a general ‘lessons learnt’ that will be available to all applicants;
• Provide information on the effectiveness and efficiency of the panel’s funding program that will guide future funding decisions.
  

In September 2007, the panel issued for comment by stakeholders a draft strategic plan for 2007-2009.  Following consideration of submissions by stakeholders, the panel has issued a report and a revised strategic plan.