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
The Panel meets regularly to consider applications for grant funding and the meeting dates are shown below. To be considered at a meeting, applications for funding should be submitted to the Executive Director at info@advocacypanel.com.au as soon as possible and no later that the deadline for the meeting.

Deadline for applications                        Meeting date
      9 October                                    30 October
    30 October                                    20 November
    20 November                                 11 December

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.

Summary of funding decisions made during June 2008.

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.

In March 2008, the Panel advised stakeholders that it had invited consultants to submit proposals to provide advice on the major classes of consumers in the NEM and their interests. The purpose of the project was to identify the major consumer classes, their interests and current involvement in market issues, and any gaps or overlaps in advocacy in order that the Panel can consider how its funding budget ought to be allocated in order to best promote the interests of consumers.
In April 2008, the Panel advised that after considering the proposals, it resolved to appoint ACIL Tasman to undertake the project.
The Panel has received ACIL Tasman’s report which it will consider at its meeting on 31 July 2008. The Panel also noted that any significant changes to the advocacy funding program would need to be agreed by 31 December 2008 and implemented as from 1 July 2009.
If stakeholders have any views on the report, and particularly its recommendations, they are invited to forward them to the Panel by 24 July 2008. Comments should be emailed to info@advocacypanel.com.au

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 AEMC has announced that Ms Karen Chalmers-Scott has been appointed to the Panel for the period 25 June 2008 to 31 March 2009.

Summary of funding decisions made during May 2008.

The terms of office of Panel members expired on 31 May 2008. The AEMC has advised that it has re-appointed Frank Peach as chairperson, and Catherine Cooper, Bruce Connery, and Professor Bill Russell as members, for a further term expiring on 31 March 2009.
Gordon Renouf was not available for re-appointment. The Panel thanks him for his contribution over the past eighteen months.

The Panel is seeking stakeholders’ views as to the content of the advocacy and research agenda that will guide the Panel in the allocation of its 2008/2009 funding budget.
The attached memorandum sets out the background to this request and seeks the assistance of stakeholders in the preparation of the advocacy and research agenda.
The Panel would appreciate your comments on these matters. Please forward comments to the Panel’s office by email to info@advocacypanel.com.au by Friday, 20 June 2008.

The AEMC has approved a budget of $1,986,446 incl GST for the panel’s electricity advocacy, research, and administrative costs in 2008/2009. SCO has advised that should the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment (Consumer Advocacy Panel) Amendment Act 2007 commence on 1 July 2008, it has approved a budget for 2008/2009 of $550,000 excl GST for gas advocacy, research, and administrative costs.

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.

Summary of funding decisions made during April 2008.

As from 1 July 2008 the panel’s office will be relocated to level 5, 201 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, the offices of the Australian Energy Market Commission, and, as from the commencement of the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment (Consumer Advocacy Panel) Amendment Act 2007, the panel’s staff will be employed by the Commission.

As a consequence of the relocation, the panel and Commission are seeking an executive director for the panel’s Sydney office.  Details of the position can be found here.

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.

Summary of funding decisions made during March 2008.

Further to the notice of 3 March 2008 that the panel was seeking proposals from consultants to undertake research on this topic, after considering the proposals the Panel appointed ACIL Tasman.

The Advocacy Panel annual report for 2006-2007 has been published.

Summary of funding decisions made during February 2008.

The panel has invited consultants to submit proposals to provide advice on the major classes of consumers in the NEM and their interests.  The purpose of the project is to identify the major consumer classes, their interests and current involvement in market issues, and any gaps or overlaps in advocacy in order that the panel can consider how its funding budget ought to be allocated in order to best promote the interests of consumers of electricity.

The Latest News and Updates section of the website will provide information on the project as it evolves.

The panel has issued guidance for organisations considering applying for advocacy/capacity building funding in 2008/2009.  The guidance deals with the matters that must be considered and attended to when preparing the project budget.

Following consideration of responses from stakeholders, the panel has published its final report on the funding requirement budget for 2008/2009.

The report has been provided to the Standing Committee of Officials of the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Australian Energy Market Commission for their consideration and the Commission’s decision on the budget.

Summary of funding decisions made during January 2008.

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.
  

Pursuant to cl 8.10 of the National Electricity Rules, the panel is required to determine its proposed funding requirement for the 2008/2009 financial year in accordance with the Rules consultation procedures and to submit the proposed funding requirement to the Australian Energy Market Commission by 12 February 2008 for its approval.

Following consideration of responses to the consultation paper of November 2007, the Panel has issued a draft report for comment.

Registered Participants and interested parties are invited to make written submissions to the panel concerning the funding requirement set out in the draft report.  Submissions should be forwarded by email to djlb@axtonjones.com.au no later than 5 pm on 11 February 2008.

Summary of funding decisions made during December 2007.

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.

Summary of funding decisions made during November 2007.

Summary of funding decisions made during October 2007.

Pursuant to cl 8.10.5(b) of the National Electricity Rules, the panel is required to determine its proposed funding requirement for the 2008/2009 financial year in accordance with the Rules consultation procedures and to submit the proposed funding requirement to the Australian Energy Market Commission by 12 February 2008 for its approval.

The Panel has issued a funding requirement consultation paper for comment.

Registered Participants and interested parties are invited to make written submissions to the panel concerning the funding requirement.  Submissions should be forwarded, preferably by email, to reach the Panel’s office by no later than 5 pm on 20 December 2007.

Summary of funding decisions made during September 2007.

In April/May 2007 the panel entered into consultation with stakeholders on how the effectiveness of panel-funded projects could be evaluated.  The consultation was undertaken because the panel wished to assess the effectiveness of the manner in which the funds it grants are used in undertaking advocacy on behalf of end-users of electricity.  In addition, the panel felt that evaluations could assist advocates to be more effective in achieving their objectives.

As a result of the consultation, the panel appointed ACIL Tasman to develop a framework for the evaluation process and to undertake an evaluation of two capacity building projects.  ACIL Tasman has provided a report entitled Evaluation of the effectiveness of advocacy projects.

The panel has invited stakeholders to provide comments on the evaluation process recommended by ACIL Tasman in its report.  After considering the comments, the panel will determine the evaluation process to be implemented.

Interested parties should forward comments to the Executive Officer of the panel at djlb@axtonjones.com.au by 17 October 2007.

The Advocacy Panel has issued a draft strategic plan for 2007-2009 and would appreciate stakeholders’ comments on it.  Comments should be forwarded by email to djlb@advocacypanel.com.au by 5 October 2007.

Summary of funding decisions made during August 2007.

Summary of funding decisions made at the panel's July 2007 meeting.