RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) ACT 2000

Table of Provisions

• Long Title

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

• 1 Short title  
• 2 Commencement  
• 3 Object/outline  
• 4 Years to which this Act applies  
• 5 Definitions  
• 6 Act binds Crown  
• 7 Application to the external Territories  
• 7A Tax deductibility  
• 7B Constitutional basis  
• 7C Immunity from State laws  

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 refuse or approve 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 ?  
• 17A What is eligible WCMG ?  

Division 4--Creation of renewable energy certificates

• 17B Overview of Division  
Subdivision A--Large-scale generation certificates for accredited power stations
• 17C Large - scale generation certificates  
• 18 Creating certificates for additional renewable electricity  
• 19 When certificates may be created  
• 20 Electricity generation return  
• 20A Amending electricity generation returns  
Subdivision B--Small-scale technology certificates for solar water heaters
• 20B Small - scale technology certificates  
• 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-scale technology certificates for small generation units
• 23AB Small - scale technology certificates  
• 23A When a certificate may be created  
• 23AAA Regulations to establish scheme for inspection of new installations of small generation units  
• 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  
• 24A Improper creation of certificates--civil penalty  
• 24B False etc. information resulting in improper creation of certificates under Subdivision B or BA--civil penalty  

Division 5--Form and registration of certificates

• 25 Form and content of large - scale generation certificates  
• 25A Form and content of small - scale technology certificates  
• 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 and 2008 WCMG limits

• 30F Varying 1997 eligible renewable power baselines  
• 30G Varying 2008 WCMG limits  

PART 2A--CLEARING--HOUSE FOR SMALL-SCALE TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATES

Division 1--Preliminary

• 30H Overview of Part  

Division 2--Regulator to establish and operate clearing house

• 30J Regulator to establish and operate clearing house  

Division 3--Entering certificates into the clearing house

• 30K Application for certificate to be entered into the clearing house  
• 30L Regulator to enter certificate into the clearing house  

Division 4--Purchase of certificates through the clearing house

• 30LA Clearing house price etc.  
• 30M Application for purchase of certificate through the clearing house  
• 30N If there is a certificate on the clearing house transfer list--Regulator to transfer certificate  
• 30P If there is no certificate on the clearing house transfer list--Regulator to create certificate  
• 30Q Form and content of certificates created by the Regulator  

Division 5--Renewable Energy Special Account

• 30R Renewable Energy Special Account  
• 30S Credits to the Renewable Energy Special Account  
• 30T Purposes of the Renewable Energy Special Account  

Division 6--Other matters

• 30U Regulations about the operation of the clearing house  

PART 3--ACQUISITION--OF ELECTRICITY

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

PART 4--RENEWABLE--ENERGY SHORTFALL CHARGE

Division 1AA--Preliminary

• 34A Overview of Part  

Division 1--Liability to charge

• 35 Liable entities  
Subdivision B--Large-scale generation shortfall charge
• 36 Large - scale generation shortfall charge payable by liable entity  
• 37 Amount of charge  
• 38 Determination of large - scale generation shortfall  
Subdivision C--Small-scale technology shortfall charge
• 38AA Interpretive provisions relating to liability for small - scale technology shortfall charge etc.  
• 38AB Small - scale technology shortfall charge payable by liable entity  
• 38AC Amount of charge  
• 38AD Determination of small - scale technology shortfall  
• 38AE Quarterly shortfalls for the quarters of a year  
• 38AF Energy acquisition statement lodged for previous year: application to have amount apply instead of previous year's reduced acquisitions  
• 38AG No energy acquisition statement lodged for previous year: application to have amount apply as if it were previous year's reduced acquisitions  
• 38AH No energy acquisition statement lodged for previous year: default rule  
• 38AI General provisions relating to applications under sections 38AF and 38AG  

Division 1A--Exemption from liability to charge

• 38A Object  
• 38B Amount of exemption  
• 38C Information about exemptions to be published on Regulator's website  

Division 2--Renewable power percentage for large-scale generation shortfall charge

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

Division 2A--Small-scale technology percentage for small-scale technology shortfall charge

• 40A Regulations to specify small - scale technology percentage  

Division 2AA--Emerging renewable energy technologies

• 40AB Inclusion of emerging renewable energy technologies  

Division 3--Other provisions related to renewable energy shortfall charge

• 40B Regulator to publish estimate of small - scale technology percentage  
• 40C Regulator to give liable entity estimate of current year's required surrender amounts for first 3 quarters  
• 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--, CERTIFICATES AND ASSESSMENTS

Division 1AA--Preliminary

• 43A Overview of Part  

Division 1--Statements

• 44 Annual energy acquisition statements  
• 44A Surrender of large - scale generation certificates in energy acquisition statement  
• 45 Surrender of small - scale technology certificates in quarterly surrender instrument  
• 45A Amending energy acquisition statement at request of liable entity  
• 45B Amending energy acquisition statement on Regulator's own initiative  
• 45C Surrender of additional certificates if energy acquisition statement amended on Regulator's own initiative  
• 45D Limitations on certificates that can be surrendered under this Subdivision  
• 45E Fees for surrender of certificates under this Subdivision  
Subdivision B--Annual renewable energy shortfall statements
• 46 Annual renewable energy shortfall statements  

Division 1A--Exemption certificates

• 46A Application for exemption certificate  
• 46B Exemption certificates  
• 46C Amending exemption certificates  
• 46D Minister may obtain information from corporation  
• 46E No exemption certificates to be issued to corporation for 5 years if Minister's request not complied with  
• 46F Disclosure of information to the Regulator  

Division 2--Assessments

• 47 First large - scale generation shortfall statement taken to be assessment of large - scale generation shortfall charge  
• 48 Default assessments of large - scale generation shortfall charge  
Subdivision B--Small-scale technology shortfall charge
• 48A First small - scale technology shortfall statement taken to be assessment of small - scale shortfall charge  
• 48B Default assessments of small - scale technology shortfall charge  
Subdivision C--Other provisions relating to 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 is 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

• 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--LARGE-SCALE GENERATION SHORTFALL CHARGE

• 95 Refunding large - scale generation shortfall 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 Penalty charge for failure to provide statements or information relevant to large - scale generation shortfall charge  
• 99A Penalty charge for failure to provide statements or information relevant to small - scale technology shortfall charge  
• 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

• 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--PUBLICATION--OF INFORMATION

• 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 large-scale generation certificates

• 140 Contents of register of large - scale generation certificates  
• 141 Form of register  

Division 4A--The register of small-scale technology certificates

• 141AA Contents of register of small - scale technology certificates  
• 141AB Form of register  

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

• 141A Contents of register of applications for accredited power stations  
• 141B Form of register  

PART 15--OFFENCES--FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS

• 154 Failure to provide documents  

PART 15A--CIVIL--PENALTIES

Division 1--Civil penalty orders

• 154A Definitions  
• 154B Civil penalty orders  
• 154C Who may apply for a civil penalty order  
• 154D Two or more proceedings may be heard together  
• 154E Time limit for application for an order  
• 154F Civil evidence and procedure rules for civil penalty orders  
• 154G Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings  
• 154H Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings  
• 154J Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings  
• 154K Evidence given in proceedings for a civil penalty order not admissible in criminal proceedings  
• 154L Mistake of fact  
• 154M State of mind  

Division 2--Liability of executive officers of bodies corporate

• 154N Civil penalties for executive officers of bodies corporate  
• 154P Reasonable steps to prevent contravention  

PART 15B--OTHER--REMEDIES

Division 1--Enforceable undertakings

• 154Q Acceptance of undertakings  
• 154R Enforcement of undertakings  

Division 2--Injunctions

• 154S Injunctions  

PART 16--MISCELLANEOUS

• 155 Contracting outsiders  
• 156 Delegation  
• 157 Appropriation  
• 159 Evidence  
• 160 Records to be kept and preserved by registered persons, liable entities and holders of exemption certificates  
• 160A Prescribing matters by reference to other instruments  
• 160B Administrative decisions under the regulations  
• 161 Regulations  

PART 17--APPLICATION--OF ACT TO 2001

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