Other issues raised in submissions Investor reference group (IRG) Both the ENA and Infrastructure submitted that we should consider forming an investor reference group to participate in the review process. We agree with this recommendation and will seek to form an IRG. As part of its submission, Spark Infrastructure identified a series of institutional investors that are interested to participate in this group. Using this as a starting point, we will go out and seek interest from investors more widely to constitute the group. In particular, we see this as a useful opportunity to understand the priorities of institutional investors, and the characteristics of an estimation process that are important from the perspective of capital providers. Like the CRG, we propose that a monthly discussion between AER and the IRG would be useful in addition to participation at the major forums and workshops during the review process. We will publish a notice calling for interested parties on our website and will also seek interested parties directly. If you are an investor and you are willing to participate in our investor reference group, please email: . Retailer reference (RRG) Similarly, we have had several retailers express interest in the rate of return guideline review process. In our view, retailers are a distinct group of stakeholders in the process and could potentially provide valuable insight about estimation of the rate of return and on the process of implementing that rate of return in determinations and in annual pricing updates. We also plan to approach retailers with the intention of setting up such a group. Like the CRG, we propose that a monthly discussion between AER and the RRG would be useful in addition to participation at the major forums and workshops during the review process. We will publish a notice calling for interested parties on our website and will also seek interested parties directly. If you are an energy retailer and you are willing to participate in a retailer reference please email: Sharing data Some stakeholders have recommended that all parties to the review seek where possible to agree on shared data series and to make those data series publicly available. We are open to this idea and will engage more with stakeholders in considering how it might be implemented. In some we will be unable to publish the data series because of its proprietary nature. An example of this is the Bloomberg, Standard and Poor’s and Thomson
Other issues raised in submissions Investor reference group (IRG) Both the ENA and Infrastructure submitted that we should consider forming an investor reference group to participate in the review process. We agree with this recommendation and will seek to form an IRG. As part of its submission, Spark Infrastructure identified a series of institutional investors that are interested to participate in this group. Using this as a starting point, we will go out and seek interest from investors more widely to constitute the group. In particular, we see this as a useful opportunity to understand the priorities of institutional investors, and the characteristics of an estimation process that are important from the perspective of capital providers. Like the CRG, we propose that a monthly discussion between AER and the IRG would be useful in addition to participation at the major forums and workshops during the review process. We will publish a notice calling for interested parties on our website and will also seek interested parties directly. If you are an investor and you are willing to participate in our investor reference group, please email: . Retailer reference (RRG) Similarly, we have had several retailers express interest in the rate of return guideline review process. In our view, retailers are a distinct group of stakeholders in the process and could potentially provide valuable insight about estimation of the rate of return and on the process of implementing that rate of return in determinations and in annual pricing updates. We also plan to approach retailers with the intention of setting up such a group. Like the CRG, we propose that a monthly discussion between AER and the RRG would be useful in addition to participation at the major forums and workshops during the review process. We will publish a notice calling for interested parties on our website and will also seek interested parties directly. If you are an energy retailer and you are willing to participate in a retailer reference please email: Sharing data Some stakeholders have recommended that all parties to the review seek where possible to agree on shared data series and to make those data series publicly available. We are open to this idea and will engage more with stakeholders in considering how it might be implemented. In some we will be unable to publish the data series because of its proprietary nature. An example of this is the Bloomberg, Standard and Poor’s and Thomson
AER%20-%20Rate%20of%20return%20positions%20paper%20-%2028%20November%202017.docx