The following objectives, priorities and key activities provide a comprehensive summary of the work we do to support vibrant carbon markets and accelerate carbon abatement 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:
- Contribute to policy design (DCCEEW lead) and progress towards Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 implementation for the Safeguard Crediting Mechanism.
- Progress towards establishing an Australian Carbon Exchange through the delivery and launch of trading platform and Registry rebuild.
- Support Guarantee of Origin Policy design and legislation (DCCEEW lead) and implement Guarantee of Origin Scheme (Day 1 deliverables).
- Data Hub Phase 1 is in production.
- Support adoption of market-based accounting for scope 1 and 2 emissions reporting.
- Contribute to policy design (DCCEEW lead) for the Nature Repair Market and the Independent ACCU review.
- Implement the Independent Review of ACCUs and the Nature Repair Market.
Key Performance Indicators
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Target (2023–24) |
|---|---|
| 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 communicate 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:
- Design, consultation and progress towards build of new version of SRES functionality.
- New version of EERS for NGER Reporters.
- Design and progress towards the build of the integrated digital platform and framework that underpins the successful implementation of all Change Program initiatives.
- Implement regulatory changes to harmonise identity verification across all schemes and introduce a ‘verify once’ framework.
- Release GIS upload and validation service for remaining area-based methods to streamline scheme participation and assurance processes.
- Undertake cost recovery design and review project, partnered with Department of Finance.
Key Performance Indicators
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Target (2023–24) |
|---|---|
| Proportion of applications processed within statutory or agreed timeframes. ^ (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 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 programs. ~ (2) | Estimated 63 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
| Methodology: Estimated abatement from CER schemes for 2023/24 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 intensity1 | |
1 This estimate includes assumptions on the estimated uptake of solar PV. Solar PV is a consumer product and installations can materially change over a year.
* 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:
- Build capability and reputation for successful civil penalty proceedings.
- Build capability for use of coercive information oral examination powers.
- 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.
- Redesign the Agency Participant Risk Assessment tool framework.
- Roll out of SPV logo to participants.
- Deliver program supporting compliance audits of Human-Induced Regeneration gateway checks.
Key Performance Indicators
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Target (2023–24) |
|---|---|
| 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:
- Introduce new smarter forms and CRM assessment functionality to high volume methods to support reduced application processing times.
- Review of agency security plan and subordinate policies and SOPs.
- Progress agency security maturity activities to reach 'managing' across all PSPF criteria.
- Replacement of internal services survey by alternative options piloted.
- Implementation of Ci Anywhere complete, including e-invoicing live.
- Selection of installer/designer accreditation bodies.
- Selection of SRES product listing body.
- Branch level workforce plans drafted for 70% of branches.
- Workforce action plans inform central learning and development programs across the year.
Key Performance Indicators
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Target (2023–24) |
|---|---|
| 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. | |
* Effectiveness KPI^ Efficiency KPI~ Output KPI
Regulator Performance Principles (1) RPP1(2) RPP2(3) RPP3