On 28 October 2021, the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 was amended to extend the deadline for lodging an application for an emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) exemption certificate.

Prescribed persons undertaking eligible EITE activities who missed the deadline on 30 March 2021, have been given a one-off opportunity to lodge an application before or on 10 December 2021.

The application extension applies only to EITE exemptions for 2021, recognising that a number of businesses have been impacted by the difficult operating environments resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prescribed persons wishing to make use of the extended application deadline will still be required to meet the remaining key dates for the 2021 application process:

  • Amendments to an exemption certificate, which includes changes to the nominated liable entity, must be made by 31 December 2021. No further extensions will be offered after this date. Incorrect information within your exemption certificate may result in it being considered invalid.
  • Data relating to electricity use for 2021 must be submitted by 16 January 2022 if the 2021 exemption amount is to be used by your electricity retailer to offset their 2021 liability in February 2022.

Background to the extended timeframe

The timeframe for applying for an EITE exemption certificate for a calendar year is ordinarily 1 August the previous year to 30 March of the year to which the application relates (e.g., for 2021 exemption certificates, the usual application period would be 1 August 2020 to 30 March 2021).

The extension to the application period for the 2021 year allows the Clean Energy Regulator (the agency) to consider the application and decide on issuing an exemption certificate by the end of the year.

For more information

For more information on the amendment, you can view the amendment instrument or contact the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources via email: renewableenergy@industry.gov.au.

If you have any questions or require assistance with your application, please contact the agency on 1300 553 542 during business hours, or email CER-IndustryAssistanceSchemes@cer.gov.au.