If you've read the explainers on the NEM, the SWIS, Horizon Power, and NT Power and Water (see below) and are still confused about which is your electricity system, this activity should help clarify things. It also identifies the rule makers for each system.

First of all, check if any of these sound like your system:

• The National Electricity Market (NEM) (this is the biggest and runs along the east coast from Northern Queensland to Tasmania and South Australia)

• the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) (this is the second biggest and captures Perth and most of south-west WA)

• The systems that are run by Horizon Power in northern WA

• The systems run by NT Power and Water across the Northern Territory.

• Offgrid systems. The Energy Made Easy website suggests you contact your local council to understand more about your energy system and options.

• An option not covered by our explainers is that your system is a privately owned network, known as an embedded network - ie it is embedded in the larger grid but you are only able to buy your electricity from the private owner. This is the case for many apartment buildings.

Secondly, look at your electricity bill. It will be from your electricity retailer and should identify your distributor near the contact number for power failures and faults. All of the main distributors are listed here. If your provider is on the list and not in WA or NT, then you are in the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Putting your postcode into Energy Made Easy will quickly tell you if you are offgrid, but won't help with postcodes where only some people are offgrid.

Who makes the rules on my electricity system?

Energy rules are intended to be consistent across Australia, and the national bodies are the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). At a political level, Energy Ministers meet as a Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council and can instruct the national bodies to implement changes. There is usually a regulator in each state as well, which is responsible for any issues not covered by the national bodies.

Resources

• NEM - NEM governance page at AEMC.
• Western Australia - AER links to regulators and policy makers in WA
• Northern Territory - AER links to regulators and policy makers in NT
• Offgrid - The Essential Services Commission in your state will have a role to play in regulating and licensing your electricity system.
• Embedded networks - AER information for customers of embedded networks

For embedded networks the Energy Made Easy website recommends the following resources:

• Tenants who buy energy from a landlord
• Buying energy in a commercial building
• AER information for customers of embedded networks