Subsidiaries of retail landlord Stockland have been fined $100,000 for allegedly selling energy without appropriate authorisation.

Stockland has been issued five infringement notices by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) who stated they believe Stockland had sold electricity to customers without holding either a retailer authorisation or retail exemption as required by the National Energy Retail Law (Retail Law).

The customers were located at a New South Wales shopping centre, two shopping centres and two retirement villages in Queensland.

Paula Conboy, AER chair, said National Energy Retail Law requires that anyone selling energy to a person for premises must hold either a retailer authorisation or an exemption from the requirement to hold an authorisation.

“Exemptions may be granted in some situations where customers cannot access the competitive retail market,” she said. “This ensures that customers receive similar protections to customers buying from authorised energy retailers. The AER will take prompt enforcement action where a business is selling energy without an appropriate authorisation or exemption.”

Stockland, in addition to paying the infringement notice penalties, has provided the AER with an undertaking that it will not sell energy without a valid authorisation or exemption and that it will implement a Retail Law compliance program that will be subject to independent oversight.

Energy Intelligence, which provided Stockland with energy management services in relation to one of the properties at which electricity was sold, has also provided the AER with a court enforceable undertaking to improve its internal processes and to appoint a compliance officer with specific responsibilities in this area.

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