Analysis

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Energy Affordability: Will Solar Sharer reduce energy costs?

Energy affordability has been a hot topic for the last few months. Whilst the first term of the Albanese Government could be characterised as being focused on shifting the narrative on renewables development, it seems likely that its second term will need to consider how to deal with affordability, for both households and businesses. So what is the likely direction of travel for energy prices in the medium term, and is there anything industry and consumers can do to minimise the impacts? And can measures like the announced Solar Sharer help?

BY Ben Barnes Nov 13 2025

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Exploring consumer duty in energy: Opportunity, challenge, and pathways forward

Across regulated sectors, a new idea is gaining traction: a consumer duty requiring businesses to act in the best interests of their customers. In financial services, it has already reshaped how products are designed, marketed, and supported. While energy retailers don’t yet operate under such a framework, its potential adoption raises important questions about the role of retailers, the nature of regulation, and how to deliver better consumer outcomes. This article explores how such a framework might operate in the energy sector, its opportunities and risks, and the conditions needed for it to deliver real benefits, while offering ideas to inform the Australian Energy Council’s developing position.

BY Jo De Silva Oct 23 2025

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Unlocking the Value of CER: The Role of Retailers in Coordination

Consumer Energy Resources (CER) are becoming a defining feature of Australia’s energy system. With more than 4 million households now hosting solar panels and more than 60,000 batteries installed since July 2025 , CER has moved from niche adoption to mainstream participation. This surge of household investment creates both opportunities and challenges. The key to realising the promise of CER lies in retailer-led coordination. Here we explore how retailers are leading the coordination of CER, the frameworks needed to support their role, and the reforms required to unlock the full benefits.

BY Jo De Silva Oct 09 2025

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A National Regulatory CER Framework: What it means for retailers and their customers

Australia’s energy system reform continues to be dominated by consumer energy resource (CER) integration. The Draft Prototype National Technical Regulatory Framework for CER proposes a unified national approach to device standards, to device accreditation and to data visibility. For retailers this is both a tightening of compliance obligations and potentially improves commercial opportunity, whilst for their customers it promises the potential for safer, more reliable and more transparent CER products and services. We expand on the core implications, and elaborate on the practical outcomes for customers, for retailers, and other stakeholders.

BY David Markham Sep 18 2025

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Unlocking Consumer Energy Resources: Addressing data sharing barriers with retailer participation

Australia’s energy transition increasingly relies on Consumer Energy Resources (CER) such as rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles and smart appliances, which are now essential to system reliability, affordability and resilience. Without effective data-sharing frameworks, however, the full potential of CER cannot be realised, limiting performance, innovation and market reform. A recent consultation paper under the National CER Roadmap identifies six key barriers, with retailers well placed to address many of them through clear policy direction and regulatory alignment. We take a closer look at the barriers outlined in the paper and the future role of retailers in addressing them.

BY David Markham Aug 14 2025

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Competition a key to VPP development: ACCC report

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s most recent report on the electricity market provides good insights into the extent of emerging energy services such as virtual power plants (VPPs), electric vehicle tariffs and behavioural demand response programs. As highlighted by the focus in the ACCC’s report, retailers are actively engaging in innovation and new energy services, such as VPPs. Here we look at what the report found in relation to the emergence of VPPs, which are expected to play an important and growing role in the grid as more homes install solar with battery storage, the benefits that can accrue to customers, as well as potential areas for considerations to support this emerging new market.

BY Carl Kitchen Aug 14 2025