To monitor scheme participants' compliance under each scheme, the Clean Energy Regulator conducts independent audits and inspections.

Audits and inspections allow us to assess participant compliance in each scheme, identify possible non-compliance and determine whether a response such as education or enforcement action is required.

Audits

Some of the schemes we administer require audits as part of routine administration. For example, most Emissions Reduction Fund project owners must have their projects audited several times during the life of the project.

Under the schemes the agency administers we may also initiate an independent audit to assess a person's compliance with one or more aspects of the legislation, or to investigate where we have reasonable grounds to believe a person has contravened or will contravene the legislation.

People or organisations subject to audit will receive a written notice specifying the type of audit required, the matters to be covered and the form of the audit report. They will also be advised whether they will need to appoint an auditor or if we have appointed one from our register of greenhouse and energy auditors

Learn more about audits in our schemes​.

Inspections

The Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 authorises the Clean Energy Regulator to perform monitoring inspections of the affairs of a registered person to substantiate information provided under the Act and determine whether the registered person has complied with the Act and Regulations.

Monitoring inspections may be performed with the consent of the registered person or in accordance with a monitoring warrant issued under the Act.

An inspector or authorised officer's powers include the ability to:

• search the premises
• examine activities conducted on the premises
• inspect, measure or test system installations
• take photographs or make audio or video recordings
• inspect any relevant documents and take extracts from them or copy them
• require the occupier to answer any questions or produce requested documents, and
• where necessary, operate equipment or secure items.

Inspectors may also be appointed under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 for the purpose of inspecting small-scale generation units. These inspectors do not have the powers described above.

Learn more about the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme inspections program.

The Clean Energy Regulator also conducts inspections of the performance of registered greenhouse and energy auditors. These are performed under the authority of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.