About the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator

The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) is a statutory authority established to oversee the implementation of the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) and the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).

The Renewable Energy Regulator is appointed by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency to administer the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (the Act), Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Act 2000 and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001. The Act supports the implementation of the Australian Government's Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) and the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). The Renewable Energy Regulator and the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator:

• maintains several registers, which include the register of:
  • registered persons
  • accredited power stations
  • small-scale technology certificates (STCs)
  • large-scale generation certificates (LGCs)
  • applications for accredited power stations.
• accredits eligible renewable energy power stations
• registers LGCs for accredited renewable energy power stations
• registers STCs for solar water heater and small-scale solar panel, wind and hydro electricity installations
• manages and maintains the online REC Registry and the STC Clearing House
• monitors compliance with the Act
• communicates the Act and Regulations
• updates and maintains the Register of Solar Water Heaters
• manages the partial exemption process for emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries.

For further information regarding the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator’s role in administering the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) and the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), visit About the Schemes.

History of ORER

The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) was established to administer the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 on 12 February 2001, with the appointment of Mr David Rossiter as the first Renewable Energy Regulator by the then Minister for the Environment and Heritage.

The Minister for Climate Change and Water appointed Mr Amarjot Singh as the acting Renewable Energy Regulator from 1 July 2008 to 31 May 2009.

The Minister for Climate Change and Water appointed Mr Andrew Livingston as the Renewable Energy Regulator on 1 June 2009.

The Renewable Energy Regulator is assisted in his duties as Regulator by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator based in Canberra.

RET policy questions

The Renewables and Reporting Branch of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) handles all policy issues relating to the Act and Regulations. Email: ret@climatechange.gov.au