Electricity Rebates and Embedded Networks

This article has been prepared in response to queries from an ARQRV member to clarify the following comment on “Embedded Networks”.

“if the scheme operator went over to an EN”  …. it will not be a case of whether the scheme operator ‘goes over’. The village is either an EN or not. An EN is where each villa is wired to a central point and the outside as against separate wiring for each resident as in suburbia.”

Commonwealth Health Care Card holders and asylum seekers will be able to apply for the electricity rebate.

An Embedded Network (EN) is where each villa is wired to a central point and the outside as against separate wiring for each resident as in suburbia. The retirement village is either an EN or not.

Although the notion of an Embedded Network Manager (ENM) was to allow EN customers to access competition and obtain cheaper power, an early problem has been that some village operators appointed Network Managers (NMs) who charged for their services in reading meters and billing residents.  This cost was then passed on to the residents.  However, according to the latest evolution of the complex rules for NMs, the village operator must pay for these costs charged by NMs.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is the sole body which approves the registration of an ENM.

It is mandatory for all retirement villages with an EN supplying electricity to more than 30 customers to have an ENM.  The manager will be selected, appointed and paid for by the owner of the EN ie Stockland, Retire Australia etc.

AEMO have issued extensive guidelines for accreditation of ENMs. See their website at:  https://www.aemo.com.au/

Scheme operators of villagers will be required to seek competitive tenders.