Clean Energy Regulator

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) is an Australian independent statutory authority responsible for administering legislation to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of clean energy. The CER, based in Canberra, was established on 2 April 2012^[2] under the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011.^[3] The agency is part of the Environment and Energy portfolio.

Chloe Munro, AO, who she served as Chair from 2012-2017, and was central to the establishment of the Clean Energy Regulator, was appointed as an Officer (AO) in the Order of Australia in January 2018 for her "distinguished service to public administration through leadership roles in the area of renewable energy, water and climate change process and reform, and to the performing arts". ^[4]

Functions[]

The CER has administrative responsibilities in relation to the renewable energy target, the Emissions Reduction Fund, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU).^[5] The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme provides a national framework for carbon accounting, energy production and energy consumption.^[6]

The CER administers the Renewable Energy Target's two schemes:^[7]

• The Large-scale Renewable Energy Target, which encourages investment in renewable power stations to achieve 33 000 gigawatt hours of additional renewable electricity generation by 2020.
• The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, which supports small-scale installations like household solar panels and solar hot water systems.

The Emissions Reduction Fund is a voluntary scheme that aims to provide incentives for a range of organisations and individuals to adopt new practices and technologies to reduce their emissions.

Annual statement of progress towards the 2020 target[]

On 23 June 2015 the CER Act was amended to implement the Government's changes to the renewable energy target. The new target for large-scale generation was 33,000 gigawatt hours in 2020. This will result in more than 23.5% of Australia's electricity being derived from renewable sources by 2020. The required gigawatt hours of renewable source electricity from 2017 to 2019 were also adjusted to reflect the new target.^[8]

To help track investment in new renewable energy capacity, the CER prepares an annual statement on progress of the scheme towards meeting the new target and the impact it is having on household electricity bills.^[8]

The CER tabled the 2016 Renewable Energy Target Administrative Report and Annual Statement. The report covers the operations of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 for the 2016 calendar year and the Renewable Energy Target 2016 Annual statement and supporting information about progress towards meeting the revised 2020 large-scale renewable energy target.^[9]

See also[]

• List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities
• Mitigation of global warming in Australia
• Australian Renewable Energy Agency

References[]