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Legislation Fact Sheet Electricity Reform Bill 2012 The Electricity Reform Bill 2012 facilitates the implementation of reforms to the Tasmanian Electricity Supply Industry. The Bill defines the objectives of the reforms, determines the measures that may be taken to implement the reforms and establishes the necessary functions and powers to ensure the reforms are implemented in a timely manner. A Ministerial Power of direction is provided in the Bill to enable the Shareholding Ministers of the State-owned electricity businesses to direct those businesses to take actions for the purpose of implementing the reforms. In addition, the Treasurer has the power to ensure that information obtained by the Electricity Supply Industry Expert Panel can be accessed for the purposes of implementing the reforms. The Bill creates a Statutory Position of Electricity Reform Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator has the power to obtain information, advice and assistance from the State-owned electricity businesses for the purposes of assisting the shareholder Ministers to implement the reforms. The Bill indemnifies the Directors, officers, agents and employees of the State-owned electricity business for any actions taken in implementing the reforms. To facilitate the restructuring of the electricity supply industry, the Bill contains provisions whereby the Treasurer can issue a transfer notice to transfer assets, rights and liabilities between the State-owned electricity businesses. Similarly, provisions are also included to enable the transfer of employees between the businesses while ensuring employee entitlements are protected. The Bill contains provisions to facilitate the sale of Aurora Energy's retail customer base, by providing the Treasurer with the necessary powers to sell Aurora Energy's retail business. Once the merger of the network businesses and the sale of Aurora Energy's retail customer base is complete, the Bill allows the transfer of any residual business to the Crown. Other provisions of the Bill will ensure that there are no impediments to prevent the implementation of the reforms from other State or national legislation.