EXPLORE KNOWLEDGE BASE
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CERI Knowledge Base
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About the CERI knowledge base
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Introduction to Australia’s electricity markets
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Australian consumer insights
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CER technical and interoperability standards
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Connecting a customer to an electricity network
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Connecting a generator to a distribution network
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Utility interconnection (CSIP-AUS)
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Dynamic network export and generation control schemes
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Network load control schemes
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Network tariffs and network support services
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Participating in the National Electricity Market
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Participating in a frequency control market
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Participating in the RERT
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Participating in the Wholesale Electricity Market (Western Australia)
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Participating in the I-NTEM (NT)
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Cyber security and data privacy arrangements
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Consumer protection frameworks
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Registering as a market customer or retailer
Last Updated on 24 July 2026
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A market customer is the entity financially responsible for purchasing electricity from the wholesale market and settling those transactions with AEMO. In contrast, an electricity retailer is the entity authorised to sell electricity to end-use customers under the NERL and the relevant state-based licensing.
Registration as a market customer and/or electricity retailer may be required if you are planning to be involved in the bulk purchase or sale of electricity. Many organisations hold both registrations, while others operate under a single classification depending on role. Some businesses choose to operate solely as market customers without holding a retail authorisation (e.g., very large customers or providers of white-label retail services). Others operate only as retailers and outsource the market customer function.
Key points
- A market customer purchases electricity through the NEM and is financially responsible for settlement with AEMO.
- Large customers may register as market customers to obtain direct wholesale market exposure.
- Market customers must meet AEMO’s prudential, settlement, systems and information-security requirements.
- Retailers must meet consumer protection, billing, hardship, life-support and operational obligations.
Registering as a market customer
Registering as a Market Customer provides direct access to the NEM for the purpose of purchasing electricity for load. This role is mostly held by electricity retailers but is also used by a small number of customers seeking direct wholesale exposure, usually where they have flexible or controllable demand.
Market customer registration requires formal AEMO approval, meeting prudential requirements, and having the systems and supporting capability to integrate with AEMO's settlement and market processes.
In recent years, the use of white-labelled or agent Market Customer services has grown. Under these arrangements, a third party holds the Market Customer registration and manages wholesale market obligations on behalf of another organisation. This enables new retail market entrants to offer customer-facing products faster and potentially at a lower cost.
To operate effectively, Market Customers require integration with AEMO’s core IT systems, including EMMS for pricing, dispatch, forecasting and settlement data; and MSATS for metering data, NMI standing data and customer transfers. Access to these systems is typically provided through AEMOs secure Participant VPN.
Market Customers also have ongoing obligations relating to prudential management, operational compliance, and information security. While registration is standard for many licensed retailers, it is relatively uncommon among others due to the complexity, financial risk and regulatory overheads involved.
Registering as an electricity retailer
Electricity retailers are authorised to sell electricity to end-use customers and are responsible for meeting a broad set of consumer protection, regulatory, and operational obligations. Retail authorisation is issued by the AER under the NERL, except in Victoria, where licensing is managed by the ESC.
Retailers must demonstrate that they have the organisational, financial and operational capability to serve customers. This includes managing billing and customer transfers, meeting hardship and life-support obligations, and complying with state and national consumer protection laws. To operate in the NEM, retailers must participate in market settlements, either by holding their own market customer registration or by operating through an approved agent.
Some retailers operate fully integrated models, while others outsource wholesale market functions. Increasingly, new entrants use white-labelled or agent services to reduce complexity and focus on customer experience and product innovation.
Retailer authorisation is a significant undertaking, but it enables organisations to directly serve customers, design tailored CER and tariff-integrated propositions and provide services across the electricity value chain.