Limited Merits Review

The Hon. Michael Egan
The Hon. Michael Egan has been Chancellor of Macquarie University since February 2008. He is also Chairman of Australian Fisheries Management Authority Commission, Chairman of the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology and Chairman of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group Pty Ltd. Mr Egan is a former Treasurer and Minister for Energy in the NSW Government.

Dr John Tamblyn
Dr John Tamblyn recently retired as the Chairman of the Australian Energy Market Commission. He has had an extensive career in the regulation of public utility services, including positions as Chairman of the Essential Services Commission (Victoria) and Regulator General (Victoria). He has also held senior positions in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. He is a member of the Solar Flagship Council advising the Commonwealth on funding towards the construction of large scale solar projects and has also been appointed to an Expert Panel advising the Tasmanian Government on options for improving the performance of the Tasmanian electricity supply industry.

•           Stage One will provide an overview of how the limited merits review regime has operated to date in the electricity and gas sectors against the original policy intent; and
•           Stage Two will present recommendations to SCER on whether amendments are required to better deliver against the objective of the review mechanism.

The Terms of Reference provides for the following timeline:

•          Review commences March 2012;
•          Targeted consultation in May 2012;
•          Stage One report to be provided to SCER by 30 June 2012;
•          Consultation on Stage One report in July 2012; and
•          Stage Two report to be provided to SCER by 30 September 2012.

This timing recognises the relevance of related workstreams that are ongoing, including work being undertaken by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) and the Productivity Commission.

Interim Stage One Paper of the Limited Merits Review Regime

This report has been prepared by an independent panel and does not necessarily reflect the views of the SCER or its senior officials. This document frames some of the issues that will be considered as part of the review, and provides some initial information and overview of the operation of the limited merits review regime to date, to aid stakeholder engagement in the review process.

Interim Stage One Paper of the Limited Merits Review Regime (Word / PDF)

Preliminary Consultation Paper

The Panel welcomes any submissions relating to, but not limited to, the issues raised in its Preliminary Consultation Paper.

Consultation Paper (Word / PDF)

Consultation Paper Two

Consultation Paper Two builds upon the preliminary statement of issues and questions, to help facilitate discussions with stakeholders.

Consultation Paper Two (Word / PDF)

Stakeholders are encouraged to raise specific matters as early as possible in the Review process to enable the Panel to give them the fullest possible consideration. The members of the Panel are keen to start hearing views on the various underlying issues at an early stage and initial submissions need not be detailed.

Consultation Paper Two is based on the Panel’s consideration of responses to its request for initial views on the Preliminary Consultation Paper, released on 30 March 2012. The Panel would welcome any more substantive submissions by 1 June. However, both formal and informal submissions will be accepted at any time.

All submissions will be made available from this website unless stakeholders have indicated that a submission should remain confidential, either in whole or in part.

All submissions can be emailed to the Review of the Limited Merits Review Secretariat at: LMR.Secretariat@ret.gov.au. 

Alternatively, submissions can be mailed to:

Attn: Review of Limited Merits Review Secretariat
Energy and Environment Division
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
GPO Box 1564
Canberra ACT 2601