Energy is essential to our modern lifestyle in Australia—it is connected to almost everything we do.
With our gas and electricity markets experiencing rapid change, the Australian Government’s priority is to ensure consumers receive affordable, reliable, sustainable and secure energy.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council, chaired by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Energy, is the body responsible for supervising and reforming Australia’s energy markets. With the support of the states and territories, the Government seeks to promote the efficient investment, operation and use of energy in Australia.
The Department of the Environment and Energy supports the Commonwealth Minister responsible for energy and seeks to achieve Australian Government policy objectives in Energy Council decisions.
The COAG Energy Council is supported by three key market bodies. The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) develops the rules by which the market must operate. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) handles the day-to-day operations of the electricity and gas markets. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) enforces the national electricity market rules and makes judgements on the regulatory proposals of monopoly network operators.
The COAG Energy Council commissioned the Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel AO to undertake an independent review in the future security of the National Electricity Market (NEM). The Final Report, delivered in June 2017, provides our long-term energy policies in the Blueprint for the Future.
Find out about the:
- COAG Energy Council
- Blueprint for the Future
- National Electricity Market
- Energy market legislation
- National Energy Customer Framework
- Gas markets
- Australian Gas Taskforce
- Energy security
- Energy supply
More information
- Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) Australian Government
- Australian Energy Regulator (AER) Australian Government
- Markets overview (AEMC) Australian Government
- Energy information for households (what you can do)
- Energy information for businesses (what you can do)