1998-1999-2000

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Renewable Energy (Electricity) Bill 2000

 

No.      , 2000

 

(Environment and Heritage)

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act for the establishment and administration of a scheme to encourage additional electricity generation from renewable energy sources, and for related purposes

   

   

   

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2

3............ Object/outline...................................................................................... 2

4............ Years to which this Act applies........................................................... 2

5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 2

6............ Act binds Crown................................................................................. 6

7............ Application to the external Territories................................................. 7

Part 2—Renewable energy certificates                                                                      8

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                              8

8............ Overview of Part................................................................................. 8

Division 2—Registration of generators etc.                                                      9

9............ Who can register................................................................................. 9

10.......... Applying for registration..................................................................... 9

11.......... Regulator to approve or refuse application.......................................... 9

12.......... Regulator to allocate registration numbers........................................... 9

Division 3—Accreditation of eligible power stations                                  10

13.......... Application for accreditation............................................................. 10

14.......... Regulator to determine certain matters............................................... 10

15.......... Regulator to approve or refuse application........................................ 11

16.......... Regulator to allocate identification codes........................................... 11

17.......... What is an eligible renewable energy source ?................................... 11

Division 4—Creation of certificates                                                                    12

Subdivision A—Electricity generation                                                                12

18.......... Creating certificates for additional renewable electricity.................... 12

19.......... When certificates may be created....................................................... 12

20.......... Electricity generation return............................................................... 12

Subdivision B—Solar water heaters                                                                     13

21.......... When a certificate may be created...................................................... 13

22.......... How many certificates may be created.............................................. 13

23.......... Who may create a certificate.............................................................. 13

Subdivision C—Improper creation of certificates                                           14

24.......... Improper creation of certificates—offences....................................... 14

Division 5—Form and registration of certificates                                       15

25.......... Form and content of certificates........................................................ 15

26.......... Certificates must be registered........................................................... 15

Division 6—Transfer of certificates                                                                    17

27.......... Certificates may be transferred.......................................................... 17

28.......... Regulator to be notified..................................................................... 17

Division 7—Retirement of certificates                                                               18

29.......... Retirement of certificates................................................................... 18

Division 8—Suspension of registration                                                              19

30.......... Suspension of registration................................................................. 19

Part 3—Acquisition of electricity                                                                                 20

31.......... What are relevant acquisitions ?......................................................... 20

32.......... Wholesale acquisitions...................................................................... 20

33.......... Notional wholesale acquisitions........................................................ 21

34.......... Special provision relating to transactions involving NEMMCO....... 21

Part 4—Renewable energy certificate charge                                                     22

Division 1—Liability to charge                                                                              22

35.......... Liable entities.................................................................................... 22

36.......... Charge payable by liable entity.......................................................... 22

37.......... Amount of charge............................................................................. 22

38.......... Determination of renewable energy certificate shortfall..................... 23

Division 2—Renewable power percentage                                                       24

39.......... Regulations to specify renewable power percentage......................... 24

40.......... Required GWh of renewable source electricity................................. 25

Division 3—Other provisions related to the charge                                   26

41.......... Arrangements to avoid or reduce renewable energy shortfall charge 26

42.......... Application of Act to Commonwealth............................................... 26

43.......... Cancellation of exemptions from charges.......................................... 27

Part 5—Statements and assessments                                                                         28

Division 1—Statements                                                                                               28

44.......... Annual energy acquisition statements............................................... 28

45.......... Restrictions on certificates that can be surrendered........................... 29

46.......... Annual renewable energy shortfall statements.................................. 29

Division 2—Assessments                                                                                            30

47.......... First renewable energy shortfall statement for year taken to be assessment              30

48.......... Default assessments.......................................................................... 30

49.......... Amendment of assessments.............................................................. 31

50.......... Refund of overpaid amounts............................................................. 33

51.......... Amended assessment to be an assessment........................................ 33

52.......... Notice of assessment......................................................................... 33

53.......... Validity of assessment...................................................................... 34

Part 6—Objections, reviews and appeals                                                               35

Division 1—Objections to and review of assessments                               35

54.......... Objections......................................................................................... 35

55.......... How objections are to be made......................................................... 35

56.......... Limited objection rights in the case of certain amended assessments 35

57.......... Applications for extension of time.................................................... 35

58.......... Regulator to decide objections........................................................... 36

59.......... Person may require Regulator to make an objection decision............ 36

60.......... Liable entity may seek review of, or appeal against, Regulator’s decision                37

61.......... Grounds of objection and burden of proof........................................ 37

62.......... Time limit for appeals........................................................................ 37

63.......... Order of Federal Court on objection decision................................... 38

64.......... Implementation of Federal Court order in respect of objection decision 38

65.......... Pending appeal not to affect implementation of decisions................. 38

Division 2—Review of other decisions                                                               39

66.......... Review of decisions.......................................................................... 39

Part 7—Collection, recovery and refunding of charge                                  41

Division 1—General rules about collection and recovery                       41

67.......... When renewable energy shortfall charge becomes due and payable.. 41

68.......... When additional renewable energy shortfall charge becomes due and payable         41

69.......... Extension of time for payment.......................................................... 41

70.......... Penalty for unpaid renewable energy shortfall charge related liability 41

71.......... Recovery of renewable energy shortfall charge related liability......... 42

72.......... Service of documents if a person is absent from Australia or cannot be found        42

Division 2—Special rules about collection and recovery                         44

Subdivision A—Recovery from a third party                                                    44

73.......... Regulator may collect amounts from third party................................ 44

74.......... Notice to Commonwealth, State or Territory..................................... 46

75.......... Indemnity.......................................................................................... 46

76.......... Offence............................................................................................. 46

Subdivision B—Recovery from liquidator                                                         46

77.......... Liquidator’s obligation...................................................................... 46

78.......... Offence............................................................................................. 48

79.......... Joint liability of 2 or more liquidators............................................... 48

80.......... Liquidator’s other obligation or liability............................................ 48

Subdivision C—Recovery from receiver                                                            48

81.......... Receiver’s obligation......................................................................... 48

82.......... Offence............................................................................................. 50

83.......... Joint liability of 2 or more receivers.................................................. 50

84.......... Receiver’s other obligation or liability............................................... 50

Subdivision D—Recovery from agent winding up business for non-resident principal                50

85.......... Obligation of agent winding up business for non-resident principal. 50

86.......... Offence............................................................................................. 51

87.......... Joint liability of 2 or more agents...................................................... 52

88.......... Agent’s other obligation or liability................................................... 52

Subdivision E—Recovery from deceased person’s estate                               52

89.......... Administered estate........................................................................... 52

90.......... Unadministered estate....................................................................... 53

Division 3—Other matters                                                                                       55

91.......... What this Division is about............................................................... 55

92.......... Right of recovery if another person is liable...................................... 55

93.......... Right of contribution if persons are jointly liable.............................. 55

94.......... Regulator may authorise amount to be recovered.............................. 56

Part 8—Refunding charge                                                                                              57

95.......... Refunding charge in later years......................................................... 57

96.......... Value of certificates surrendered....................................................... 57

97.......... Certificates can only be surrendered if there is no shortfall............... 57

98.......... Refund of charge where certificates surrendered............................... 58

Part 9—Penalty charge                                                                                                      59

99.......... Failure to provide statements or information..................................... 59

100........ False or misleading statements.......................................................... 60

101........ Penalty renewable energy shortfall charge where arrangement to avoid renewable energy shortfall charge             61

102........ Assessment of additional renewable energy shortfall charge............ 61

103........ Remitting additional renewable energy shortfall charge.................... 61

Part 10—Administration                                                                                                  62

104........ General administration of Act........................................................... 62

105........ Annual report.................................................................................... 62

Part 11—Audit                                                                                                                        63

Division 1—Overview                                                                                                 63

106........ Overview of Part............................................................................... 63

Division 2—Appointment of authorised officers and identity cards 64

107........ Appointment of authorised officers................................................... 64

108........ Identity cards..................................................................................... 64

109........ Offences related to identity cards...................................................... 64

Division 3—Powers of authorised officer                                                         65

Subdivision A—Monitoring powers                                                                     65

110........ Authorised officer may enter premises by consent or under monitoring warrant to check information provided under this Act or to check compliance with the Act........................................... 65

111........ Monitoring powers of authorised officers......................................... 65

Subdivision B—Power of authorised officer to ask questions and seek production in certain circumstances        67

112........ Authorised officer may request or require persons to answer questions etc.            67

113........ Failure to provide information to authorised officer.......................... 68

114........ False or misleading evidence............................................................. 68

115........ False or misleading documents......................................................... 68

Division 4—Obligations and incidental powers of authorised officers    70

116........ Authorised officer must produce identity card on request................. 70

117........ Consent............................................................................................. 70

118........ Announcement before entry.............................................................. 70

119........ Details of monitoring warrant to be given to occupier etc. before entry 70

120........ Use of electronic equipment in exercising monitoring powers.......... 71

121........ Compensation for damage to electronic equipment........................... 72

Division 5—Occupier’s rights and responsibilities                                      74

122........ Occupier entitled to be present during execution of monitoring warrant.. 74

123........ Occupier to provide authorised officer with all facilities and assistance 74

124........ Offences related to warrants.............................................................. 74

Division 6—Warrants                                                                                                 75

125........ Monitoring warrants......................................................................... 75

Part 12—Secrecy                                                                                                                   76

126........ Persons to whom Part applies........................................................... 76

127........ Information may be recorded or divulged only for purposes of Act. 76

128........ Court may not require information or documents.............................. 77

129........ Information may be divulged to persons performing duties under this Act              77

130........ Information may be divulged to court for purposes of this Act......... 77

131........ Information may be divulged with consent of the subject of the information           78

132........ Information may be divulged to specified persons or bodies............ 78

133........ Australian Bureau of Statistics to observe secrecy requirements....... 79

134........ Regulator may publish certain information........................................ 79

Part 13—Registers                                                                                                                80

Division 1—General                                                                                                     80

135........ Registers to be maintained................................................................. 80

Division 2—The register of registered persons                                             81

136........ Contents of register of registered persons......................................... 81

137........ Form of register................................................................................ 81

Division 3—The register of accredited power stations                             82

138........ Contents of register of accredited power stations.............................. 82

139........ Form of register................................................................................ 82

Division 4—The register of renewable energy certificates                     83

140........ Contents of register of renewable energy certificates........................ 83

141........ Form of register................................................................................ 83

Part 14—Renewable Energy Regulator and Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator            84

Division 1—Renewable Energy Regulator                                                      84

142........ Renewable Energy Regulator............................................................ 84

143........ Appointment of Regulator................................................................. 84

144........ Remuneration of Regulator............................................................... 84

145........ Recreation leave etc........................................................................... 85

146........ Resignation....................................................................................... 85

147........ Removal from office etc.................................................................... 85

148........ Acting appointment........................................................................... 86

Division 2—Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator                          88

149........ Establishment.................................................................................... 88

150........ Function............................................................................................ 88

151........ Staff.................................................................................................. 88

Part 15—Offences                                                                                                                 89

152........ Application of Criminal Code ........................................................... 89

153........ False or misleading information........................................................ 89

154........ Failure to provide documents............................................................ 90

Part 16—Miscellaneous                                                                                                     91

155........ Contracting outsiders........................................................................ 91

156........ Delegation......................................................................................... 91

157........ Appropriation.................................................................................... 92

158........ Judicial notice of signature................................................................ 92

159........ Evidence............................................................................................ 92

160........ Records to be kept and preserved by registered persons and liable entities              93

161........ Regulations....................................................................................... 94

 

A Bill for an Act for the establishment and administration of a scheme to encourage additional electricity generation from renewable energy sources, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts: