Part 1Transitional provision related to AEMC rule making powers

Part 1—Transitional provision related to AEMC rule making powers 1—AEMC rule making powers The amendment to section 252 of this Law by section 19 of the Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Rules) Act 2018 does not apply to the making of— (a) a Rule on a request under section 243(1) of this Law received by the AEMC before the commencement of this clause; or (b) an AEMC initiated Rule (within the meaning of section 235 of this Law) in respect of which the AEMC has, before the commencement of this clause, published notice of its intention to make. Part 2—Transitional provision related to stand‑alone power systems 2—Transitional provision related to stand‑alone power systems The designated retailer for a small customer's premises that are connected to a stand‑alone power system that becomes a regulated stand‑alone power system under the NEL after the commencement of section 6B of the NEL is— (a) the financially responsible retailer for the premises; or (b) if there is no financially responsible retailer for the premises—the local area retailer for the premises. Part 3—Savings and transitional provisions related to Ministerial Council on Energy amendments 2A—Definitions Amendment Act means the Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Omnibus) Act 2021; commencement day means the day on which section 25 of the Amendment Act comes into operation. 3—References to Ministerial Council on Energy (1) On and from the commencement day, a reference to the Ministerial Council on Energy or MCE in an Act, a legislative instrument, any other kind of instrument, or a contract, agreement or other document will be taken to be a reference to the MCE as defined in section 2 (as amended by section 25 of the Amendment Act). (2) In this clause— agreement includes the Australian Energy Market Agreement or any other intergovernmental agreement to which this jurisdiction is a party. 4—Rights under certain change of law provisions in agreements or deeds not to be triggered (1) The substitution of the definition of the MCE by section 25 of the Amendment Act is not to be regarded as a change of law (however defined) under any agreement or deed in effect on the commencement day. (2) Subclause (1) applies despite any provision in any agreement or deed to the contrary. 5—Rights under contracts etc (1) The substitution of the definition of the MCE by section 25 of the Amendment Act does not affect a right, obligation, liability or immunity of the MCE under an agreement, deed or other instrument entered into by the MCE and in effect on the commencement day. (2) On and from the commencement day, a reference to the Ministerial Council on Energy or MCE in an agreement, deed or other instrument referred to in subclause (1) will be taken to be a reference to the MCE as defined in section 2 (as amended by section 25 of the Amendment Act). (3) Subclause (1) applies despite any provision in any agreement, deed or other instrument to the contrary. 6—Saving of decisions etc The substitution of the definition of the MCE by section 25 of the Amendment Act does not affect the validity of— (a) any decision or direction made by the MCE before the commencement day; or (b) any appointment in accordance with a recommendation or nomination of the MCE made before the commencement day. Part 4—Transitional provisions related to national energy retail objective amendments 7—Definitions amended objective means the national energy retail objective as in force on the commencement of this clause; amending Act means the Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Emissions Reduction Objectives) Act 2023; government or regulatory entity means the AEMC, AEMO, the AER, the Energy Security Board, the MCE or another government entity; start day—see clause 8(2)(a). 8—When amended objective takes effect for particular matters (1) This clause applies in relation to a thing required or permitted to be done under this Law by a person or body, other than the AEMC, if, in doing the thing, the person or body is required to consider or apply the national energy retail objective including, for example, by— (a) having regard to the national energy retail objective; or (b) doing the thing in a manner that will or is likely to contribute to the achievement of the national energy retail objective. (2) Despite section 9 of the amending Act— (a) the national energy retail objective as in force before that section came into operation continues to apply for the doing of the thing until the day (the start day) that is 2 months after the commencement of this clause; and (b) the amended objective applies in relation to the doing of the thing from the start day. (3) This clause is subject to clause 9. 9—Application of national energy retail objective to particular matters in progress on start day (1) This clause applies if— (a) before the start day, an entity or other person had started, or was required or permitted to start, doing a thing; and (b) on the start day— (i) the entity or other person has not finished doing the thing; or (ii) the period within which the thing is required or permitted to be done has not ended; and (c) in doing the thing the entity or other person is required to consider or apply the national energy retail objective by, for example— (i) having regard to the national energy retail objective; or (ii) doing the thing in a manner that will or is likely to contribute to the achievement of the national energy retail objective. (2) The national energy retail objective as in force before the commencement of this clause, and as continued under clause 8 until the start day, continues to apply in relation to the doing of the thing. (3) However, a government or regulatory entity may decide to consider or apply the amended objective in relation to the doing of the thing. 10—Administrative guidance for decisions under clause 9(3) (1) If a government or regulatory entity, other than the AER, proposes to exercise a discretion under clause 9(3), the entity must use its best endeavours to ensure that within 45 days after the commencement of this clause, it issues administrative guidance about the matters the entity is likely to have regard to in deciding whether to consider or apply the amended objective in doing a thing. (2) The AER must, within 45 days after the commencement of this clause, issue administrative guidance about the matters the AER is likely to have regard to in deciding whether to consider or apply the amended objective in doing a thing. (3) A failure to comply with this section does not prevent a government or regulatory entity from exercising a discretion under clause 9(3). 11—Administrative guidance about value of greenhouse gas emissions (1) This clause applies if— (a) administrative guidance is issued by a government or regulatory entity about considering or applying the amended objective; and (b) the guidance includes the value, or a method of working out the value, of greenhouse gas emissions or greenhouse gas emissions reduction; and (c) the guidance is consistent with any MCE statement. (2) The value or method stated in the administrative guidance must be complied with by the government or regulatory entity in considering or applying the amended objective. (3) This clause applies until a National Regulation or Rule takes effect for the matter described in subclause (1). (4) In this clause— MCE statement means a statement issued by the MCE that states the value, or a method of or guidance for working out the value, of greenhouse gas emissions or greenhouse gas emissions reduction, that is to be used by a government or regulatory entity in considering or applying the amended objective until a National Regulation or Rule mentioned in subclause (3) takes effect. 12—Validation of things done in relation to Rules before commencement (1) This clause applies if, before the commencement of this clause— (a) the MCE or a Minister of a participating jurisdiction had requested a Rule under section 243(1) in relation to the national energy retail objective as if the amended objective were in force; and (b) the AEMC had done a thing under Part 10, other than sections 261 to 264, in relation to the request. (2) On the commencement of this clause— (a) the thing is taken to have been validly done under Part 10; and (b) the AEMC is taken to have satisfied a requirement under the Law to apply the national energy retail objective in relation to the thing. Part 5—Transitional provisions related to other gas amendments 13—Definition commencement day means the day on which this Part comes into operation. 14—Retailer authorisations A retailer authorisation authorising the sale of natural gas and in effect immediately before the commencement day is taken to authorise the sale of natural gas and natural gas equivalents. 15—Exempt sellers (1) A person who immediately before the commencement day was an exempt seller for natural gas is taken to be an exempt seller for natural gas and natural gas equivalents to the same extent and on the same conditions as applied immediately before the commencement day. (2) In this clause— exempt seller means a person who is exempt, under Part 5, Division 6 of this Law, from the requirement to hold a retailer authorisation. 16—RoLR arrangements (1) A retailer who immediately before the commencement day was appointed and registered as the default RoLR for a gas distribution system continues to be the default RoLR for that distribution system whether the distribution system is used for natural gas or a natural gas equivalent. (2) A retailer who immediately before the commencement day was registered as an additional RoLR for a gas distribution system continues to be an additional RoLR for that distribution system whether the distribution system is used for natural gas or a natural gas equivalent. (3) A retailer who immediately before the commencement day was appointed as a designated RoLR for a gas distribution system continues to be the designated RoLR for that distribution system whether the distribution system is used for natural gas or a natural gas equivalent. (4) Nothing in this clause limits the power of the AER to terminate the appointment and registration of a retailer as a default RoLR in accordance with section 125(9) of this Law. (5) Nothing in this clause limits the power of the AER to terminate the registration of a retailer as a RoLR in accordance with section 128 of this Law. Part 6—Savings and transitional provisions related to RoLR 17—Amendment of RoLR Guidelines and RoLR plan (1) The AER must update the following to take account of the amendments made to this Law by the National Energy Retail Law (Retailer of Last Resort) Amendment Act 2025 (the amending Act)— (a) the AER RoLR Guidelines under section 135; (b) the RoLR plan under section 162. (2) The AER must ensure the updates are completed within 6 months after the commencement of the amending Act. Legislative history Notes • In this version provisions that are uncommenced appear in italics. • Please note—References in the legislation to other legislation or instruments or to titles of bodies or offices are not automatically updated as part of the program for the revision and publication of legislation and therefore may be obsolete. • Earlier versions of this Act (historical versions) are listed at the end of the legislative history. • For further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au. Principal Act and amendments New entries appear in bold. Year No Title Assent Commencement National Energy Retail Law (South Australia) Act 2011 17.3.2011 1.7.2012 (Gazette 28.6.2012 p2923) National Energy Retail Law (South Australia) (Implementation) Amendment Act 2012 24.5.2012 1.7.2012 (Gazette 28.6.2012 p2924) except Pt 2—1.2.2013 (Gazette 31.1.2013 p156) except new ss 18, 21, 28(2)(a), 35(5), (8) & 37(5), (8) (as inserted by s 4)—uncommenced Statutes Amendment (Smart Meters) Act 2013 21.11.2013 Pt 3 (ss 7—9)—28.11.2013 (Gazette 28.11.2013 p4383) Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Rules) Act 2018 9.8.2018 Pt 3 (ss 12—20)—20.9.2018 (Gazette 20.9.2018 p3500) Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Penalties and Enforcement) Act 2020 22.10.2020 Pt 3 (ss 34 to 46)—29.1.2021 (Gazette 27.1.2021 p163) Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Omnibus) Act 2021 11.2.2021 Pt 4 (ss 25 to 32)—15.4.2021 (Gazette 15.4.2021 p1169) Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Stand-Alone Power Systems) Act 2021 11.3.2021 Pt 3 (ss 10 to 12)—20.5.2021 (Gazette 20.5.2021 p1398) Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Gas Pipelines) Act 2022 24.11.2022 Pt 3 (ss 6 to 8)—2.3.2023 (Gazette 2.3.2023 p464) Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Regulatory Sandboxing) Act 2022 24.11.2022 Pt 3 (ss 18 to 31)—8.12.2022 (Gazette 8.12.2022 p6823) Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Emissions Reduction Objectives) Act 2023 Pt 3 (ss 9 to 13)—21.9.2023: s 2 Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Other Gases) Act 2023 23.11.2023 Pt 4 (ss 67 to 70) & Pt 5 (ss 71 to 90)—7.3.2024 (Gazette 7.3.2024 p371) National Energy Retail Law (Retailer of Last Resort) Amendment Act 2025 27.11.2025 Pt 2 (ss 4 to 13)—18.12.2025 (Gazette 18.12.2025 p4961) Provisions amended New entries appear in bold. Entries that relate to provisions that have been deleted appear in italics. Provision How varied Commencement Pt 1 s 2 s 2(2) amended by 36/2023 s 67 Pt 2 s 7 s 7(1) amended by 36/2023 s 68(1), (2) Pt 4 s 14 s 14(1) and (2) amended by 36/2023 s 69 Pt 5 1.2.2013—except ss 18, 21 & 28(2)(a)—uncommenced s 20 expired: s 20(13)—omitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 (1.2.2013) Pt 6 1.2.2013 Pt 7 1.2.2013—except ss 35(5), (8) & 37(5), (8)—uncommenced s 41 s 41(1) amended by 36/2023 s 70 Sch—National Energy Retail Law Pt 1 s 2 s 2(1) annual turnover inserted by 37/2020 s 34(1) application Act amended by 3/2021 s 25(1) AER regulatory function or power amended by 22/2022 s 18(1) civil penalty substituted by 37/2020 s 34(2) covered gas inserted by 36/2023 s 71(1) distribution system amended by 21/2022 s 6(1) distributor amended by 21/2022 s 6(2) Energy Security Board inserted by 12/2018 s 12(2) gas substituted by 36/2023 s 71(2) initial National Energy Retail Rules amended by 12/2018 s 12(1) innovative trial principles inserted by 22/2022 s 18(2) jurisdictional gas legislation inserted by 36/2023 s 71(3) MCE substituted by 3/2021 s 25(2) National Energy Retail Rules amended by 12/2018 s 12(3), (4) natural gas inserted by 36/2023 s 71(4) natural gas equivalent inserted by 36/2023 s 71(4) prescribed covered gas inserted by 36/2023 s 71(5) South Australian Minister inserted by 36/2023 s 71(6) Territory inserted by 3/2021 s 25(3) trial project trial Rule trial waiver s 2(7) inserted by 36/2023 s 71(7) s 2A inserted by 36/2023 s 72 s 3A inserted by 36/2023 s 73 s 4A inserted by 37/2020 s 35 s 7A inserted by 37/2020 s 36 s 8A inserted by 12/2018 s 13 s 9 substituted by 3/2021 s 26 s 10 amended by 3/2021 s 27 (c) deleted by 3/2021 s 27 amended by 36/2023 s 74 s 11 s 11(4) substituted by 36/2023 s 75 s 13 amended by 26/2023 s 9 s 13AA inserted by 26/2023 s 10 s 13A inserted by 22/2022 s 19 amended by 36/2023 s 76 s 16 s 16(1) substituted by 36/2023 s 77 Pt 2 s 22 s 22(1a) and (1b) inserted by 69/2013 s 7(1) s 22(6) inserted by 69/2013 s 7(2) Pt 3 s 76 s 76(4a) inserted by 16/2012 s 5(1) s 76(5) amended by 16/2012 s 5(2) Pt 5 s 88 substituted by 16/2012 s 6 s 88(2) amended by 21/2022 s 7 amended by 36/2023 s 78 s 89 s 89(1) s 89 redesignated as s 89(1) by 16/2012 s 7 s 89(2) and (3) inserted by 16/2012 s 7 s 94 amended by 36/2023 s 79(1) s 94(1) s 94 redesignated as s 94(1) by 36/2023 s 79(2) s 94(2) inserted by 36/2023 s 79(2) s 96A inserted by 16/2012 s 8 s 104A inserted by 16/2012 s 9 s 99 s 99(1a) inserted by 36/2023 s 80 s 107 s 107(2) amended by 16/2012 s 10 amended by 37/2020 s 37 Pt 5A inserted by 22/2022 s 20 Pt 6 s 132 s 132(1) and (2) substituted by 61/2025 s 4(1) s 132(2a) and (2b) inserted by 61/2025 s 4(1) s 132(3) deleted by 61/2025 s 4(1) s 132(3a) inserted by 16/2012 s 11 amended by 61/2025 s 4(2) s 135 s 135(2) amended by 61/2025 s 5 s 136 s 136(1) substituted by 16/2012 s 12(1) s 136(1a) inserted by 16/2012 s 12(1) s 136(2) amended by 16/2012 s 12(2) s 136(2a) inserted by 61/2025 s 6 s 136(3) amended by 16/2012 s 12(3) s 136(4) amended by 16/2012 s 12(4) s 137 s 137(1) amended by 36/2023 s 81(1) s 137(1a) inserted by 61/2025 s 7 s 137(5) amended by 21/2022 s 8(1) s 137(5a) inserted by 36/2023 s 81(2) s 137(6a) inserted by 36/2023 s 81(3) s 137(6b) inserted by 36/2023 s 81(3) s 137(7) amended by 36/2023 s 81(4) s 137(8a) inserted by 36/2023 s 81(5) s 137(10) amended by 21/2022 s 8(2), (3) s 137(11) amended by 21/2022 s 8(4) s 137(14) amended by 21/2022 s 8(5) amended by 36/2023 s 81(6) s 144(2) amended by 36/2023 s 82 s 139 s 139(a1) inserted by 16/2012 s 13(1) s 139(1) amended by 16/2012 s 13(2) ss 148A—148C inserted by 61/2025 s 8 s 158 amended by 37/2020 s 38 s 163 amended by 61/2025 s 9(1)—(3) s 166 s 166(3) amended by 61/2025 s 10(1) s 166(4a)—(4c) inserted by 61/2025 s 10(2) s 166(5) substituted by 61/2025 s 10(3) s 166(5a)—(5d) inserted by 61/2025 s 10(3) s 166(7) amended by 61/2025 s 10(4) s 167 s 167(1) amended by 61/2025 s 11 s 168 s 168(1) s 168 amended and redesignated as s 168(1) by 61/2025 s 12(1), (2) s 168(2) inserted by 61/2025 s 12(2) Pt 7 s 187 s 187(2) amended by 16/2012 s 14 Pt 8 s 204 s 204(1) amended by 16/2012 s 15 amended by 22/2022 s 21(1), (2) s 206 s 206(1) amended by 16/2012 s 16 amended by 37/2020 s 39(1) s 206(2) amended by 37/2020 s 39(2)—(4) s 206(3) amended by 37/2020 s 39(5) s 206(3a) inserted by 37/2020 s 39(6) s 206(4) amended by 37/2020 s 39(7), (8) s 206(5a) inserted by 37/2020 s 39(9) s 206(6) amended by 37/2020 s 39(10) s 206(7) amended by 37/2020 s 39(11) s 206(9) amended by 37/2020 s 39(12), (13) s 206(9a) and (9b) inserted by 37/2020 s 39(14) s 206(11)—(19) inserted by 37/2020 s 39(15) s 214 s 214(7a) inserted by 3/2021 s 28 s 218 s 218(a1) inserted by 37/2020 s 40(1) s 218(2) amended by 37/2020 s 40(2) s 210A inserted by 12/2018 s 14 Pt 9 s 224A inserted by 26/2023 s 11 s 230 s 230(1) amended by 3/2021 s 29 Pt 10 Pt 10 Div 1 s 235 market initiated proposed Rule amended by 22/2022 s 22(1) publish amended by 3/2021 s 30 amended by 22/2022 s 22(2) trial Rule inserted by 22/2022 s 22(3) Pt 10 Div 2 s 236A inserted by 22/2022 s 23 s 237 s 237(1) amended by 22/2022 s 24 s 237(2) amended by 69/2013 s 8 amended by 9/2021 s 10 amended by 36/2023 s 83 Pt 10 Div 3 heading amended by 12/2018 s 15 Pt 10 Div 3 Subdiv 1 heading inserted by 12/2018 s 16 s 238 s 238(1) amended by 36/2023 s 84 s 238AA inserted by 22/2022 s 25 s 238AA(1) amended by 36/2023 s 85 s 238A inserted by 69/2013 s 9 s 238A(1) amended by 36/2023 s 86 s 238AB inserted by 9/2021 s 11 s 238AB(1) amended by 36/2023 s 87 s 238AC inserted by 26/2023 s 12 s 238AD inserted by 36/2023 s 88 Pt 10 Div 3 Subdiv 2 inserted by 12/2018 s 17 s 238B s 238B(1) amended by 36/2023 s 89 Pt 10 Div 4 s 239 s 239(1) s 239 redesignated as s 239(1) by 12/2018 s 18 s 239(2) inserted by 12/2018 s 18 s 246 amended by 22/2022 s 26 s 249 s 249(1) amended by 22/2022 s 27(1), (2) s 249(2) substituted by 22/2022 s 27(3) s 249(7) inserted by 22/2022 s 27(4) s 252 s 252(1) amended by 12/2018 s 19 s 252A inserted by 22/2022 s 28 s 259 s 259(3) amended by 22/2022 s 29 s 261 s 261(3) inserted by 22/2022 s 30 ss 262A—262D inserted by 22/2022 s 31 Pt 13 s 291 s 291(1) amended by 37/2020 s 41(1) s 291(2) amended by 37/2020 s 41(2), (3) s 291(2a) inserted by 37/2020 s 41(4) s 292 s 292(1) amended by 37/2020 s 42(1) s 292(2) amended by 37/2020 s 42(2), (3) s 294 amended by 37/2020 s 43(1), (2) ss 300A and 300B inserted by 37/2020 s 44 s 305 amended by 37/2020 s 45 Pt 15 s 320 s 320(3) substituted by 3/2021 s 31 s 320(3a) and (3b) inserted by 3/2021 s 31 ss 321 and 322 inserted by 37/2020 s 46 Sch 1 inserted by 12/2018 s 20 Pt 2 inserted by 9/2021 s 12 Pt 3 Pt 2 inserted by 3/2021 s 32 Pt 2 redesignated as Pt 3 by 26/2023 s 13(1) cl 2A cl 2 redesignated as cl 2A by 26/2023 s 13(2) Pt 4 inserted by 26/2023 s 13(3) Pt 5 inserted by 36/2023 s 90 Pt 6 inserted by 61/2025 s 13 Historical versions 1.2.2013