What is an electricity or gas licence?
Under the Electricity Industry Act 2004 anyone generating, distributing or selling electricity to customers in Western Australia must hold a licence or a licence exemption. Under the Energy Coordination Act 1994 anyone who distributes or sells gas to a small-use customer in Western Australia using a gas distribution system (pipes and gas infrastructure) must hold a licence or licence exemption.
Examples of licence exemptions
Some of the different types of licence exemptions currently in place include exemptions for small electricity generation facilities, the provision of electricity for electric vehicle charging stations; electricity supplies to Aboriginal communities; and on-sellers in embedded energy networks.
To submit a licence exemption application or make an enquiry about licence exemptions email EPWA-licence-exemptions@deed.wa.gov.au.
How to apply for an individual licence exemption
The Licence Exception Application Guidelines provide information on the process and requirements to apply for an individual licence exemption.
To submit a licence exemption application or make an enquiry about licence exemptions email EPWA-licence-exemptions@deed.wa.gov.au.
Applicants should note that the licence exemption decision process takes approximately six months, and a successful outcome is not guaranteed.
No new solar power purchase agreement licence exemption applications are accepted.
Following a review of electricity retail licensing and exemptions, the Minister for Energy has determined that no additional solar power purchase agreement licence exemption applications will be accepted.
On 25 July 2025, the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation announced that on-site power supply services, a term which includes Solar Power Purchase Agreements (SPPA), will be regulated under the Alternative Electricity Services (AES) registration framework. Mandatory registration and obligations under the AES Code will commence from February 2027. Applicants should consider the impact of the AES registration framework on their activities. Visit Alternative Electricity Services – AES framework for more information.
- Ministerial Statement: Regulatory framework review of retail electricity licensing and exemptions (PDF)
- Fact sheet Solar PPA exemptions and retail licensing review (PDF)
Consultations and decisions
Energy Policy WA will publish licence exemption applications for public comment as part of the assessment process. Details of the open and closed consultations, along with decisions on licence exemption applications are outlined below.
Open consultations
Show moreOpen consultations on licence exemption applications are listed below:
There are currently no open licence exemption application consultations.
Closed consultations and other changes to licence exemptions - pending decision
Show moreConsultation processes that are closed for stakeholder comment, but still subject to further actions are listed below:
Licence exemption applications that will not be progressed
Show moreLicence exemption applications that will not be progressed are listed below:
- Transmission licence exemption application - Karara Power Pty Ltd
Licence exemptions granted
Show moreLicence exemptions that have been granted to allow parties to generate, transmit, distribute and/or retail electricity or gas can be viewed in the Electricity Industry Exemption Order. Solar power purchase agreement providers that have been granted an exemption from the requirement to hold a retail licence are listed in the (Solar Power Purchase Agreements) Exemption Order 2016.
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