Part 12	National energy retail consultation
172	Customer Consultative Group
(1)	The AER must establish and maintain a Customer Consultative Group.
(2)	The function of the Group is to provide advice to the AER in relation to the AER’s functions under the energy laws affecting energy consumers across participating jurisdictions.
(3)	The AER may appoint persons as members of the Group after consultation with organisations and groups that the AER considers appropriate.
(4)	The procedure of the Group is to be as determined by the AER.
173	Retail consultation procedure
(1)	If the Law or these Rules require the AER to make an instrument (however described) in accordance with the retail consultation procedure, the AER must proceed in accordance with this rule.
(2)	The AER must proceed as follows :
(a)	the AER must, after such consultation (if any) as the AER considers appropriate, prepare a draft instrument; and
(b)	the AER must publish, on its website and in any other way the AER considers appropriate, the draft instrument together with a notice:
(i)	stating why the instrument is required; and
(ii)	giving reasonable details of the context in which the draft instrument has been prepared, the issues involved and the possible effects of the instrument; and
(iii)	inviting written submissions and comments on the draft instrument within a period (at least 20 business days) stated in the notice; and
(c)	the AER must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the period allowed for making submissions and comments on the draft instrument, consider all submissions and comments made within the time allowed and make the instrument in its final form.
(3)	The AER must prepare a written notice stating the reasons for making the instrument in its final form.
(4)	After making an instrument, the AER must, without delay, publish the instrument and the written notice under subrule (3) relating to it on the AER’s website.
(5)	Subject to the Law and these Rules, an instrument made in accordance with this rule takes effect on the date provided for its commencement under the terms of the instrument or, if no date is so provided, 10 business days after the date the instrument was made.