The National Energy Customer Framework (NECF) commenced on 1 July 2012, bringing in a new set of national laws, rules and regulations governing the retail sale and distribution of energy to end use customers. The NECF will apply initially in the ACT and Tasmania.

Other jurisdictions (except Queensland which has yet to consider the matter) remain committed to maintaining the NECF package as originally agreed and introducing it as soon as practical, as
announced in the Standing Council on Energy and Resources (SCER) meeting communiqué of 8 June 2012. Western Australia and the Northern Territory are not adopting the NECF as separate energy industry frameworks apply in these jurisdictions.