NETCC Council Meeting - December 2024

This is a summary of the NETCC Council meeting held on 3 December 2024.

Communiques of each meeting are made so stakeholders can be informed about the work of the Council and its implementation of the Code.

New Council members

The Chair welcomed the following to the NETCC Council:

• Melissa McAuliffe, Tech Manager, Advocacy and Policy at Energy Consumers Australia. Melissa is focused on the future of gas, CER, and consumer protections
• Jarrod Barker, NETCC Manager at Clean Energy Council.

Administrator update

• The program has received 209 new applications in the current financial year (FY24/25) against a forecast of 207 so is trending on track.
• There are currently 1,687 approved Signatories of the code as of 30 November 2024. The Administrator has observed a slow-down in new applications, but this follows high numbers in September and October, so this is expected and likely to continue through December and January 2025.
• The Compliance team is investigating 18 new cases in November, they have closed 21 cases and have 27 in progress.
• There is a decline in complaints received. An item will be included in the NETCC communications plan to promote awareness of the complaint mechanism for consumers.
• The Administrator has been working with the Finance Delegate to develop a sales and installation agreement template designed to be compliant with the Code. This will be further considered by the Council.

ACCC reauthorisation

The industry consultation on the proposed NETCC amendments for ACCC reauthorisation has concluded and the report has been circulated to the Council.

• There were 48 respondents. Most of the feedback within scope related to refining clarity. This will be reviewed. The remaining comments were outside scope and have been noted for the broader review due in 2026.
• The drafting of the ACCC reauthorisation document has commenced and a draft will be circulated to the Council before the end of 2024.
• The ACCC have allowed 6 months for review but also suggested providing the draft for comment before formal submission. With endorsement from the Council, the Administrator will aim to provide the draft application to the ACCC by the end of January 2025, and formal submission by 14 March 2025.

Next meeting

Next meeting to be held in February 2025.