The Networks Division ensures an integrated approach to the AER’s network (electricity and gas) economic regulatory role. The division has a key responsibility in delivering the AER’s objective: Deliver efficient regulation of monopoly infrastructure while incentivising networks to become platforms for energy services. Undertaking network regulation is an enormous task, with approximately 30 revenue resets undertaken in any 5-year period dealing with more than $130 billion in assets.

Each Assistant Director, Networks will report to a Director and operate with a reasonable level of autonomy. In this role you will contribute to the achievement of the AER’s purpose: to make all energy consumers better off, now and in the future.

The key duties of the position include:

- Lead a small team conducting analytical activities. The Division encompasses a wide range of analytical work, for example:
- expenditure assessment—bottom-up assessment of capex business cases; analysis of proposed opex using the base-step-trend approach; calculate econometric benchmarks of network productivity; model replacement capex (repex) and augmentation capex (augex) programs
- policy development—interpret the legislative framework for energy regulation; develop guidelines on regulatory processes; draft submissions to relevant rule change processes.
- financial modelling—project cashflows under a building block approach; calculate revenue requirements; model asset values and depreciation schedules; assess financeability metrics
- tariff assessment—evaluate pricing proposals from regulated networks; ensure compliance with legislation and AER decisions; assess tariff schedules.
- data management and visualisation – improve data governance and management processes; enhance or create data visualisation tools to support analytical assessments.
- Lead the planning and management of concurrent projects. The Division undertakes a wide range of projects, such as:
- revenue resets (every 5 years)



for regulated distribution or transmission electricity networks or gas pipelines
- annual pricing processes to set tariffs for end users
- applications for variation in regulated revenues (contingent projects, cost pass throughs or reopeners), typically taking 3 to 6 months
- revenue determinations for REZ projects, typically taking 6 to 12 months.
- developing data requirements.
- Lead engagement with energy sector stakeholders (across business, consumers and government) on technical and regulatory matters, including interacting with regulated energy business through formal information gathering processes.
- Lead the drafting of documents for a wide range of audiences including public decision documents, policy papers, correspondence, board papers, and briefings.
- Build capability by providing team members with explicit direction and support, working across offices in multiple cities.

Eligibility

- Australian Citizenship – our successful candidate must be an Australian Citizen
- Security clearance – our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the required level
- Employment check – your suitability for employment will be assessed through a screening process.

Getting to know the Australian Energy Regulator The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) works to make energy consumers better off, now and in the future. We focus on ensuring a secure, reliable and affordable energy future for Australia as it transitions to net zero emissions. We regulate electricity networks and covered gas pipelines, in all jurisdictions except Western Australia. We set the amount of revenue that network businesses can recover from customers for using these networks. From 1 July 2026, the AER structurally separated from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and transitioned into a standalone non-corporate Commonwealth entity with its own accountable authority, staff and budgetary control. The separation of the AER from the ACCC is a significant regulatory reform aimed at improving the governance and operational autonomy of the AER.

📌 Assistant Director (Multiple Positions) (Sydney)
🏢 Australian Energy Regulator
📍 Sydney