The following objectives, priorities and key activities provide a comprehensive summary of the work we do to support vibrant carbon markets, accelerate carbon abatement and support nature repair for Australia. The planning priorities and key deliverables are mutually reinforcing and could be applied across multiple objectives. They outline how we will improve our program delivery and engage with our stakeholders. Key deliverables and their associated KPIs are placed under the objective they are key drivers in achieving, noting some KPIs may be relevant to more than one objective.
Objective: A trusted, relevant and expert institution
The Clean Energy Regulator publishes relevant, accurate and timely data and other information to promote and enhance a well-functioning, vibrant and liquid carbon market and to inform future policy development.
In doing so, our agency relies on and supports productive and collaborative relationships across governments, states and territories, and industry and stakeholder bodies.
Planning priority 1: Maintaining high integrity in our administered schemes and associated markets. Identifying and effectively mitigating emerging risks associated with administering our schemes and facilitating the markets we regulate.
Key deliverables
- Successful implementation of reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism.
- Market sounding on a carbon exchange model.
Key Performance Indicators
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Target (2024 - 25) |
|---|---|
| No significant breaches of government, administrative, legal and policy requirements. *(2) | 0 breaches |
| Methodology: Assessed through instances/cases of non-compliance recorded as part of annual compliance statements and any findings from internal and external audits on agency operations and compliance. | |
| Improvements to the way we use and share data. * (1)(2) | Qualitative analysis |
| Methodology: CER must build on data quality and accessibility to promote and enhance a well-functioning, vibrant and liquid carbon market. Our performance against this KPI would be demonstrated through a case study where appropriate. | |
| Level of satisfaction with the quality and timeliness of market information. * (1)(3) | Qualitative analysis |
| Methodology: Results from the agency's annual participant survey indicating satisfaction with the range of market information delivered by the agency. The result is derived from a set of questions in the survey related to CER's market information. | |
*Effectiveness KPI ^Efficiency KPI ~Output KPI Regulator Performance Principles (1) RPP1 (2) RPP2 (3) RPP3
Objective: Efficient and effective administration
Our agency administers our schemes in an efficient and effective way to encourage participation and compliance, reduce costs and meet the objectives of the legislation to accelerate carbon abatement.
Planning priority 2: Implementing best practice to deliver the programs we administer, using regulatory principles and data-driven, proportionate risk-based compliance approaches.
Key deliverables
- Release a new Unit and Certificate Register.
- Stand up the Guarantee of Origin Scheme (if legislated).
- Release a new Emissions and Energy Reporting System for NGER reporters.
- Stand up the Nature Repair Market.
- Launch and progressively populate a new data platform that enables dynamic access to CER datasets.
Key Performance Indicators
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Target (2024 - 25) |
|---|---|
| Proportion of applications processed within statutory or agreed timeframes (excluding Nature Repair). ^ (3) | 99.5 per cent |
| Methodology: Across schemes - the number of applications processed within statutory or agreed timeframes against the total number of applications processed. Where statutory timeframes do not exist, we apply internal processing timeframes. Where there are application queries - the clock stops on the statutory or agreed processing timeframes. | |
| Proportion of Nature Repair applications processed within agreed timeframes. ^ (3) | ≥ 90 per cent (1) |
| Methodology: The number of applications processed (applications include approved, refused, incomplete and withdrawn) within statutory timeframes against the total number of applications processed recorded in the Reporting Tool. | |
| Proportion of investigations completed within timeframes. ^ (3) | 80 per cent |
| Methodology: The number of investigations completed within the required timeframes against the total number of investigations completed. We aim to complete complex investigations within 365 days and routine investigations within 180 days. | |
| Level of carbon abatement delivered by CER administered voluntary schemes (ACCU Scheme and RET). ~ (2) | Estimated 71.2 million tonnes of CO2-e2 |
| Methodology: Estimated abatement from CER schemes for 2024/25 based on number of ACCUs issued, LGCs validated for the period (converted to t CO2-e) at NEM+SWIS emissions intensity and generation from SRES (converted to t CO2-e) at NEM+SWIS emissions intensity. | |
| Net covered emissions from the operation of each designated large facility does not exceed its Safeguard Mechanism baseline for the latest reporting year (2023-24). ~ (2) | 100 per cent(3) |
| Methodology: Number of Safeguard facilities with a net emissions number for the 2023-24 financial year, at or below their determined baseline figure as at 1 April 2025. | |
(1) As a new scheme, there is significant uncertainty over volume of applications which may affect this measure.
(2) The target is an estimate that could be affected by a range of economic and environmental factors outside the administrative remit of
the agency.
(3) This target relates to reporting for the 2023/24 financial year, which completes in April 2025. While the CER cannot guarantee 100% compliance, this target sets our clear expectation. Failure to comply may result in financial penalties significantly higher than the cost of compliance.
*Effectiveness KPI ^Efficiency KPI ~Output KPI Regulator Performance Principles (1) RPP1 (2) RPP2 (3) RPP3
Objective: Engaged, active and compliant participants
We achieve the best outcomes when the entities we regulate can successfully engage with us to participate in the schemes we administer, meet their obligations, and willingly contribute to our information gathering.
Planning priority 3: Working with scheme participants, service providers, communities, institutions and organisations to raise awareness and understanding of scheme requirements and leverage experience, insights, and opportunities to enable productive engagement and innovation.
As we build new functions in the agency and meet new legislative requirements, we will share insights, and tailor engagement to optimise government administration and outcomes, and reduce regulatory burden for our new and existing participants.
Key deliverables
- Manage non-compliance, and influence participant behaviour by communicating the regulatory responses and actions we take to address non-compliance, including the use of targeted enforcements to act as a deterrent.
- Delivery of audit program for Human-Induced Regeneration project gateway checks.
Key Performance Indicators
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Target (2024 - 25) |
|---|---|
| Compliance levels by regulated and liable entities. ^ (2) | ≥ 95 per cent |
| Methodology: Across relevant schemes, the total number of reports submitted within the required reporting timeframe against the total number of reports required to be submitted. Additional analysis is provided in relation to required compliance with safeguard baselines and the RET certificate surrender. | |
| Level of participant satisfaction with engagement and guidance provided. * (1)(3) | Score > 80 per cent |
| Methodology: Results from the annual participant survey indicating satisfaction with engagement and guidance activities delivered by the agency. The result is derived from a specific survey question. | |
| Practical and timely guidance and outreach activities with our participants. * (1)(3) | Qualitative analysis |
| Methodology: Provision of targeted and timely guidance and outreach activities enables our participants to successfully engage with us to participate in the schemes we administer. Our performance against this KPI would be demonstrated through a case study where appropriate. | |
*Effectiveness KPI ^Efficiency KPI ~Output KPI - Regulator Performance Principles (1) RPP1 (2) RPP2 (3) RPP3
Objective: Secure and enduring regulatory infrastructure
Our agency's processes, systems and infrastructure must be reliable and resilient, and able to respond flexibly to policy and/or operational changes. They must also be supported by capable, expert and adaptable people to ensure our agency can respond quickly to new policy demands, technological changes and participant expectations.
Planning priority 4: Strengthening the capability in people, processes and infrastructure across scheme regulation, compliance, enforcement and market facilitation.
Continuously assessing capabilities to meet current and emerging operational requirements and tailoring workforce and infrastructure planning accordingly.
Key deliverables
- Implementation of selected SRES product listing body.
- Support the design and implementation of the developer rating scheme.
- Finalise delivery of the CER's e-carbon platform base functionality.
Key Performance Indicators
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Target (2024 - 25) |
|---|---|
| Level of participant satisfaction with agency processes and systems. * (1)(3) | Score >80 per cent |
| Methodology: Results from the agency's annual participant survey indicating satisfaction with agency processes and systems. The result is derived from a set of questions in the survey related to agency processes and systems. | |
| Systems are available and secure as required by scheme participants, government standards and legislated need. * (1)(2) | 99.5 per cent availability and zero significant security breaches |
| Methodology: Availability of online systems at the application level, excluding planned outages and no significant security breaches as assessed against the ACSC standards. | |
| Flexibility and adaptability in our staff to meet current and future requirements. * (1) | Qualitative analysis |
| Methodology: We continue to invest in our people and develop our workforce to ensure we have the right mix of capabilities and aptitudes to meet current and future requirements. Our performance against this KPI would be demonstrated through the use of a case study where appropriate. | |
| Market, registry and data support services were delivered on time and met stakeholder expectations. * (1)(2) | Qualitative analysis |
| Methodology: Evidence of the progressive implementation of a new carbon unit/certificate register with improved user functionality and interoperability with other digital trading platforms/exchange. New Data Services functionality progressively delivered with increasing levels of data available through the new service making it simpler for our data to be consumed and analysed by users. | |
*Effectiveness KPI ^Efficiency KPI ~Output KPI Regulator Performance Principles (1) RPP1 (2) RPP2 (3) RPP3