Companies who conduct eligible emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) activities are encouraged to prepare for 2020 exemption certificate applications under the Renewable Energy Target (RET).

A company that carries out EITE activities may benefit from an exemption certificate through negotiations with their electricity retailer (a liable entity under the RET).

2020 applications are open now

Applications for exemption certificates are now open and must be made on or before 30 March 2020. An online form and assessment process is available through the Client Portal.

Start your application now to give you time to understand the electricity use method and your use amount formula to determine the amount of exemption. You will need to engage an auditor if your facility's exemption is expected to be more than 15,000 megawatt hours (MWh).

Preparing your application

To prepare for your application:

  • ensure you have a Client Portal account
  • encourage your electricity retailer to create a Client Portal account (if they do not already have one). This is important if you decide to provide the liable entity representative(s) access to your Client Portal application documents. Doing so allows them to receive and read documents on your behalf. To process 2020 applications effectively, liable entity representative(s) should have an account and be a primary contact by 30 March 2020.
  • determine the use amount formula, make sure you:
    • have sufficient onsite metering, including access to your customer billing meter
    • know what EITE activities you conduct on site
    • know the accuracy of your meters and how to determine accuracy of exemption
  • ensure you have the following documents to support your application:
    • audit report if expected exemption is more than 15,000 MWh
    • line diagrams/schematics referencing meter locations, and
    • relevant maps, geographic information and process diagrams.

If you received an exemption certificate under the electricity use method for a previous year(s), you will need to include use amount adjustments for the previous year(s) in the 2020 application year use amount formula. This is required if something on site changed that caused the use amount to be different to what you received.

Further information

See the emissions-intensive trade-exposed page on our website for more information. If you require further assistance contact the Clean Energy Regulator at CER-IndustryAssistanceSchemes@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au