Compliance and enforcement priorities 2025–26

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) administers Australian Government schemes for reporting and reducing Australia’s carbon emissions. A strong compliance and enforcement framework is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of Australia’s greenhouse gas reduction schemes, supporting market confidence to invest and hence accelerate carbon abatement.

Our approach to compliance with these schemes is that the obligation to comply with legislative requirements rests with participants.  

Where we detect non-compliance, we will actively take enforcement action drawing from the full suite of compliance and enforcement powers as reflected in our compliance policy for education, monitoring and enforcement activities. Our enforcement responses to non-compliance are proportionate and we consider the impact of non-compliance on scheme objectives. 

Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme

ACCU project applications must be complete, accurate and on time. 

We will refuse to consider applications that are not complete. We will not issue ACCUs unless we are satisfied that all requirements have been met and that the information provided is accurate. Projects that have missed their reporting deadline and have not engaged with us can expect to be revoked.

Project notifications must be timely.

Project proponents must notify us in a timely manner following certain events relating to their ACCU project. These events include changes in the operation of the project, disturbance events (such as bushfires or flood) and any errors identified in offsets reports. Timely notifications are required to monitor ongoing project eligibility and ensure the accuracy of credited abatement. Project proponents must have appropriate systems in place to monitor their projects and meet notification requirements. Failures to notify on time may result in enforcement action.

Nature Repair Market scheme

Participants must understand the scheme rules and method requirements and applications must be accurate and complete. 

As the Nature Repair Market scheme evolves, we will assist participants to understand their obligations but will not tolerate deliberate non-compliance. This approach will support the integrity of the scheme to deliver improved biodiversity outcomes in Australia.

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme and Safeguard Mechanism

All Safeguard facilities’ net emissions must be at or below baselines by 31 March.

All Safeguard facilities must reduce their emissions in line with Australia’s climate targets and their obligations under the Safeguard Mechanism. Safeguard facilities that exceed or expect to exceed their baseline must engage with us early and manage their excess emissions, including by surrendering ACCUs or Safeguard Mechanism credit units (SMCs). This applies to Safeguard entities under administration. Safeguard facilities who fail to meet their obligations by the relevant deadline should expect that we will issue infringement notices or commence civil penalty proceedings.

All NGER Reports must be complete, accurate and on time.

NGER reporters must provide accurate reports by the 31 October 2025 reporting deadline. Accurate and timely reporting is critical to maintaining scheme data integrity. Repeated inaccuracies or failures to report on time will trigger compliance or enforcement action. We will also publish the details of late reporters.

Renewable Energy Target (RET)

Installers and retailers must provide true and correct written statements for small-scale technology certificate (STC) claims.

Written statements for STCs must be accurate. Installations must meet the eligibility requirements including electrical safety and wiring. Installers must also meet the on-site attendance obligations for the installation of small-scale solar PV systems. Participants who do not comply will be subject to compliance and enforcement action.

Residential Batteries into the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)

Battery installations must be compliant.

Batteries installed as part of a SRES-eligible system must comply with all local, state, territory and federal requirements, including those for electrical safety, and must be listed on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) list of approved components and be installed by an accredited installer. We expect a high level of due diligence from installers and retailers when they make representations to the CER. Those who do not meet their obligations will be subject to compliance action including being removed from participating in the SRES.

Audit

Auditors must meet their obligations.

We expect registered auditors to meet their obligations. Auditors must be independent, understand technical scheme requirements and meet rotation requirements. Non-compliant auditors will face compliance action, such as suspension or deregistration.