On 16 April 2024, the State Government of Western Australia passed legislation to regulate the provision of Alternative Electricity Services (AES).
The AES framework, which extends customer protections to new and emerging electricity services, is under development.
The ERA is responsible for administering and enforcing the framework, including providing an online portal for participants to register.
The Minister for Energy has announced that embedded networks and on-site power supply arrangements (OSPA) will be the first services regulated under the AES framework.
Energy Policy WA will consult later in the year on the regulations to prescribe these two services and the AES Code of Practice, which will outline the mandatory customer protections.
We expect to open registrations for service providers in the second half of 2026, with registration and customer protections becoming compulsory in early 2027.
Once implemented, embedded network and OSPA providers will be required to register with the ERA, comply with the AES Code of Practice, and join the Energy and Water Ombudsman Scheme.
Embedded networks
An embedded network is a private electricity network servicing multiple lots or tenancies within the one property. It is connected to the grid through a “master meter” that measures the electricity supplied for everyone on that property at that connection point.
Embedded networks can be found in apartment buildings, retirements villages, caravan and long stay parks, shopping centres, office blocks, industrial parks, university and health campuses, airports, and seaports.
On-site power supply arrangements
An OPSA allows a customer to use all or part of the electricity from an energy system that is installed on their property. The provider of the on-site power supply owns the energy system, not the customer, and charges the customer for the power used.
The customer purchases electricity from the grid, as well as from the on-site power system.
Further information
The ERA is preparing for this new function and will update this page as new information is available.
You can contact the AES team on aes@erawa.com.au.
Information on the development of, and the services to be regulated under, the AES framework is available on the Energy Policy WA website.
If you would like to receive email notifications about the ERA's AES work, please subscribe for updates.
