Consumer Advocacy Panel
On 1 July 2008, the Consumer Advocacy Panel was established by the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment Act 2004, as amended.
Subject to the Act, the Consumer Advocacy Panel is not subject to direction by the Commission or the Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) in the performance of its functions. Provision has been made for transitional arrangements regarding the former Advocacy Panel. A copy of the relevant amending legislation can be found on the MCE’s website.
The Consumer Advocacy Panel’s functions include determining grant allocations for consumer advocacy projects and research projects for the benefit of consumers of electricity or natural gas (or both).
The Commission will be responsible for making grants, as directed by the Consumer Advocacy Panel. More information on the Consumer Advocacy Panel’s procedures is available at its website.
Membership of the Consumer Advocacy Panel
Under transitional arrangements, the Consumer Advocacy Panel comprises five members, one of whom is also appointed as Chairperson. The current Consumer Advocacy Panel comprises:
Ms Karen Chalmers-Scott was appointed to the former Advocacy Panel on 25 June 2008 to fill the vacancy left by Mr Gordon Renouf’s retirement from the former Advocacy Panel.
Guidelines for the appointment of Advocacy Panel members
Clause 8.10.3(a) of the National Electricity Rules had required the Commission to publish guidelines for the appointment of members of the former Advocacy Panel. The Guidelines, dated 16 January 2007, were updated on 24 June 2008 to reflect the increase in remuneration rates in accordance with the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal’s determination 2007/10. This increase in remuneration rates was effective from 1 June 2008. The Guidelines, dated 24 June 2008, are available here.