The ERA is preparing to administer and enforce the Alternative Electricity Services (AES) framework in Western Australia. This includes building a registration portal where AES providers will register.
AES include new and emerging electricity services, and the framework ensures customers of AES providers receive appropriate customer protections. The provider of an AES regulated under the framework will need to register with the ERA, comply with the AES Code of Practice, and join the Energy and Water Ombudsman WA scheme.
The first two services to be regulated under the AES framework are on-site power supply (OPS) services and single property networks (SPNs).
The Electricity Industry (Alternative Electricity Services) Regulations 2026 and the AES Code of Practice for OPS have now been enacted.
OPS providers will have to register with the ERA and become a member of the Energy and Water Ombudsman WA scheme on 1 February 2027. SPN providers will need to register on 1 July 2027.
Single property networks
An SPN 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.
SPNs 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.
SPNs were previously referred to as ‘embedded networks’ in earlier consultation on the AES framework.
On-site power supply arrangements
An OPS system allows a customer to use all or part of the electricity from an energy system installed on their property. The provider of the OPS system owns the energy system, not the customer, and charges the customer for the power used. This could be on a cents per-unit basis, or through a subscription fee.
The customer purchases electricity from the grid, as well as from the OPS provider.
Further information
The ERA will update this page regularly to provide information to AES providers on the registration process and new obligations, and to customers on the new protections.
You can contact the AES team on aes@erawa.com.au. If you would like to receive email notifications about the ERA's AES work, please subscribe for updates.
Information on the development of the AES framework is available from Energy Policy WA.