Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) ACT 2000

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Short title [see Note 1]  
   2.      Commencement [see Note 1]  
   3.      Object/outline  
   4.      Years to which this Act applies  
   5.      Definitions  
   6.      Act binds Crown  
   7.      Application to the external Territories  

   PART 2--RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES

           Division 1--Preliminary

   8.      Overview of Part  

           Division 2--Registration of persons

   9.      Who can register  
   10.     Applying for registration  
   11.     Regulator to approve or refuse application  
   12.     Regulator to allocate registration numbers  

           Division 2A--Provisional accreditation of power stations

   12A.    Application for provisional accreditation of a power station  
   12B.    Regulator may give provisional accreditation  
   12C.    Time limit for deciding applications  

           Division 3--Accreditation of eligible power stations

   13.     Application for accreditation  
   14.     Regulator to determine certain matters  
   15.     Regulator to approve or refuse application  
   15A.    Time limit for deciding applications  
   15B.    Nominated person for power station  
   16.     Regulator to allocate identification codes  
   17.     What is an eligible renewable energy source?  

           Division 4--Creation of certificates

              Subdivision A--Electricity generation

   18.     Creating certificates for additional renewable electricity  
   19.     When certificates may be created  
   20.     Electricity generation return  
   20A.    Amending electricity generation returns  

              Subdivision B--Solar water heaters

   21.     When a certificate may be created  
   22.     How many certificates may be created  
   23.     Who may create a certificate  
   23AA.   Register of solar water heaters  

              Subdivision BA--Small generation units

   23A.    When a certificate may be created  
   23B.    How many certificates may be created  
   23C.    Who may create a certificate  
   23D.    No other certificates to be created  
   23E.    Election to not create certificates under this Subdivision  

              Subdivision BB--Solar water heater and small generation unit return

   23F.    Solar water heater and small generation unit return  

              Subdivision C--Improper creation of certificates

   24.     Improper creation of certificates--offences  

           Division 5--Form and registration of certificates

   25.     Form and content of certificates--power stations  
   25A.    Form and content of certificates--solar water heaters and small generation units  
   26.     Certificates must be registered  

           Division 6--Transfer of certificates

   27.     Certificates may be transferred  
   28.     Regulator to be notified  

           Division 7--Retirement of certificates

   28A.    Registered owner may surrender certificate  
   29.     Retirement of certificates  

           Division 8--Suspension of registration

   30.     Suspension of registration--conviction of offence  
   30A.    Suspension of registration--other grounds  

           Division 9--Changing the nominated person for an accredited power station

   30B.    Changing the nominated person for an accredited power station  

           Division 10--Varying what constitutes a power station

   30C.    Varying what constitutes a power station  

           Division 11--Suspending the accreditation of a power station

   30D.    Suspending the accreditation of a power station--interconnected power stations  
   30E.    Suspending the accreditation of a power station--other grounds  

           Division 12--Varying 1997 eligible renewable power baselines

   30F.    Varying 1997 eligible renewable power baselines  

   PART 3--ACQUISITION OF ELECTRICITY

   31.     What are relevant acquisitions?  
   32.     Wholesale acquisitions  
   33.     Notional wholesale acquisitions  
   34.     Special provision relating to transactions involving NEMMCO or a person or body prescribed by the regulations  

   PART 4--RENEWABLE ENERGY SHORTFALL CHARGE

           Division 1--Liability to charge

   35.     Liable entities  
   36.     Charge payable by liable entity  
   37.     Amount of charge  
   38.     Determination of renewable energy certificate shortfall  

           Division 2--Renewable power percentage

   39.     Regulations to specify renewable power percentage  
   40.     Required GWh of renewable source electricity  

           Division 3--Other provisions related to the charge

   41.     Arrangements to avoid or reduce renewable energy shortfall charge  
   42.     Application of Act to Commonwealth  
   43.     Cancellation of exemptions from charges  

   PART 5--STATEMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS

           Division 1--Statements

   44.     Annual energy acquisition statements  
   45.     Restrictions on certificates that can be surrendered  
   45A.    Amending annual energy acquisition statements  
   46.     Annual renewable energy shortfall statements  

           Division 2--Assessments

   47.     First renewable energy shortfall statement for year taken to be assessment  
   48.     Default assessments  
   49.     Amendment of assessments  
   50.     Refund of overpaid amounts  
   51.     Amended assessment to be an assessment  
   52.     Notice of assessment  
   53.     Validity of assessment  
   53A.    Application of Division  

   PART 6--OBJECTIONS, REVIEWS AND APPEALS

           Division 1--Objections to and review of assessments

   54.     Objections  
   55.     How objections are to be made  
   56.     Limited objection rights in the case of certain amended assessments  
   57.     Requests for extension of time  
   58.     Regulator to decide objections  
   59.     Person may require Regulator to make an objection decision  
   60.     Liable entity may seek review of, or appeal against, Regulator's decision  
   61.     Grounds of objection and burden of proof  
   62.     Time limit for appeals  
   63.     Order of Federal Court on objection decision  
   64.     Implementation of Federal Court order in respect of objection decision  
   65.     Pending appeal not to affect implementation of decisions  

           Division 2--Review of other decisions

   66.     Review of decisions  

   PART 7--COLLECTION AND RECOVERY OF CHARGE

           Division 1--General rules about collection and recovery

   67.     When renewable energy shortfall charge becomes due and payable  
   68.     When penalty charge becomes due and payable  
   69.     Extension of time for payment  
   70.     Penalty for unpaid renewable energy shortfall charge or unpaid penalty charge  
   71.     Recovery of renewable energy shortfall charge related liability  
   72.     Service of documents if a person is absent from Australia or cannot be found  

           Division 2--Special rules about collection and recovery

              Subdivision A--Recovery from a third party

   73.     Regulator may collect amounts from third party  
   74.     Notice to Commonwealth, State or Territory  
   75.     Indemnity  
   76.     Offence  

              Subdivision B--Recovery from liquidator

   77.     Liquidator's obligation  
   78.     Offence  
   79.     Joint liability of 2 or more liquidators  
   80.     Liquidator's other obligation or liability  

              Subdivision C--Recovery from receiver

   81.     Receiver's obligation  
   82.     Offence  
   83.     Joint liability of 2 or more receivers  
   84.     Receiver's other obligation or liability  

              Subdivision D--Recovery from agent winding up business for non-resident principal

   85.     Obligation of agent winding up business for non-resident principal  
   86.     Offence  
   87.     Joint liability of 2 or more agents  
   88.     Agent's other obligation or liability  

              Subdivision E--Recovery from deceased person's estate

   89.     Administered estate  
   90.     Unadministered estate  

           Division 3--Other matters

   91.     What this Division is about  
   92.     Right of recovery if another person is liable  
   93.     Right of contribution if persons are jointly liable  
   94.     Regulator may authorise amount to be recovered  

   PART 8--REFUNDING CHARGE

   95.     Refunding charge in later years  
   96.     Value of certificates surrendered  
   97.     Certificates can only be surrendered if there is no shortfall  
   98.     Refund of charge where certificates surrendered  

   PART 9--PENALTY CHARGE

   99.     Failure to provide statements or information  
   100.    False or misleading statements  
   101.    Penalty charge where arrangement to avoid renewable energy shortfall charge  
   102.    Assessment of penalty charge  
   103.    Remitting penalty charge  

   PART 10--ADMINISTRATION

   104.    General administration of Act  
   105.    Annual report  

   PART 11--AUDIT

           Division 1--Overview

   106.    Overview of Part  

           Division 2--Appointment of authorised officers and identity cards

   107.    Appointment of authorised officers  
   108.    Identity cards  
   109.    Offences related to identity cards  

           Division 3--Powers of authorised officer

              Subdivision A--Monitoring powers

   110.    Entry to premises  
   111.    Monitoring powers of authorised officers  

              Subdivision B--Power of authorised officer to ask questions and seek production in certain circumstances

   112.    Authorised officer may request or require persons to answer questions etc.  
   113.    Failure to provide information to authorised officer  

           Division 4--Obligations and incidental powers of authorised officers

   116.    Authorised officer must produce identity card on request  
   117.    Consent  
   118.    Announcement before entry  
   119.    Details of monitoring warrant to be given to occupier etc. before entry  
   120.    Use of electronic equipment in exercising monitoring powers  
   121.    Compensation for damage to electronic equipment  

           Division 5--Occupier's rights and responsibilities

   122.    Occupier entitled to be present during execution of monitoring warrant  
   123.    Occupier to provide authorised officer with all facilities and assistance  
   124.    Offences related to warrants  

           Division 6--Warrants

   125.    Monitoring warrants  

   PART 11A--INFORMATION-GATHERING POWERS

   125A.   Regulator may obtain information and documents  
   125B.   Self-incrimination  
   125C.   Copies of documents  
   125D.   Regulator may retain documents  
   125E.   False or misleading evidence  

   PART 12--SECRECY

   126.    Persons to whom Part applies  
   127.    Information may be recorded or divulged only for purposes of Act  
   128.    Court may not require information or documents  
   129.    Information may be divulged to persons performing duties under this Act  
   130.    Information may be divulged to court for purposes of this Act  
   131.    Information may be divulged with consent of the subject of the information  
   132.    Information may be divulged to specified persons or bodies  
   133.    Australian Bureau of Statistics to observe secrecy requirements  
   134.    Regulator may publish certain information  

   PART 13--REGISTERS

           Division 1--General

   135.    Registers to be maintained  

           Division 2--The register of registered persons

   136.    Contents of register of registered persons  
   137.    Form of register  

           Division 3--The register of accredited power stations

   138.    Contents of register of accredited power stations  
   139.    Form of register  

           Division 4--The register of renewable energy certificates

   140.    Contents of register of renewable energy certificates  
   141.    Form of register  

           Division 5--The register of applications for accredited power stations

   141A.   Contents of register of applications for accredited power stations  

   PART 14--RENEWABLE ENERGY REGULATOR AND OFFICE OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY REGULATOR

           Division 1--Renewable Energy Regulator

   142.    Renewable Energy Regulator  
   143.    Appointment of Regulator  
   144.    Remuneration of Regulator  
   145.    Recreation leave etc.  
   146.    Resignation  
   147.    Removal from office etc.  
   147A.   Disclosure of interests  
   148.    Acting appointment  

           Division 2--Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator

   149.    Establishment  
   150.    Function  
   151.    Staff  

   PART 15--OFFENCES FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS

   154.    Failure to provide documents  
   155.    Contracting outsiders  
   156.    Delegation  
   157.    Appropriation  
   158.    Judicial notice of signature  
   159.    Evidence  
   160.    Records to be kept and preserved by registered persons and liable entities  
   161.    Regulations  
   162.     Review of operation of Act  

   PART 17--APPLICATION OF ACT TO 2001

   163.    Object of Part  
   164.    Modification of references to a year  
   165.    Modification of other references