About the Commissioner
Andrew Dyer
Andrew commenced in the role of National Wind Farm Commissioner in November 2015. The role and name of the Commissioner was expanded to the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner on 26 March 2021.
Andrew is an experienced executive, chairman and company director. He serves on a number of boards and advisory boards and is a Professorial Fellow at Monash University.
Previous board roles include Chairman of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Council and serving on the boards of the Transport Accident Commission, GWM Water, the East Grampians Health Service as well as the boards of various commercial and not-for-profit entities.
Andrew’s professional career includes executive and operational roles in the utilities, telecommunications, information technology and professional services industries, primarily in Australia and North America. He was also the Victorian Government Commissioner to the Americas, based in San Francisco.
A former McKinsey & Co. consultant, Andrew holds a Bachelor of Engineering with first class honours from Monash University and an MBA from Georgetown University in Washington DC.
What we do
The Commissioner’s role is guided by the updated Terms of Reference issued by the then Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, in March 2021. The Office of the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner helps community members address their concerns about wind farms, large-scale solar farms, energy storage facilities and new major transmission projects. The Office also identifies and promotes best practices, working with stakeholders from all levels of government, industry and the community.
The Office performs the following roles:
- facilitating the referral and resolution of complaints received from concerned residents about proposed or operating wind farms, large-scale solar farms (5 MW or more), energy storage facilities such as pumped storage hydropower (pumped hydro), large-scale batteries (1 MW or more) and new major transmission projects;
- identifying and promoting best practices related to the planning, development and operation of energy projects, including standards and compliance, complaint handling procedures and community engagement; and
- providing greater transparency on information related to wind farms, large-scale solar farms, energy storage facilities and new major transmission projects in Australia.
Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Terms of Reference 2021-25
The role of the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner was announced by the Australian Government on 26 March 2021 expanding and replacing the role of the existing National Wind Farm Commissioner.
The Commissioner will work collaboratively with all levels of government, scientists, experts, industry and the community to resolve complaints from community members about proposed and operational wind farms, large scale solar farms (5 MW or more), energy storage facilities, such as pumped hydro and large scale batteries (1 MW or more) and new major transmission projects.
The Commissioner will refer complaints about wind farms, large scale solar farms, storage facilities and new major transmission projects to the relevant respondent or authority and help ensure that they are properly addressed.
The Commissioner will lead efforts to promote best practices, information availability, and provide a central, trusted source for dissemination of information.
The Commissioner, supported by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will report to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy and provide an Annual Report to the Australian Parliament on delivering against these Terms of Reference. The Commissioner may also, by agreement with the Minister, lead reviews relevant to the Commissioner's role and expertise.
The Commissioner’s role will not duplicate or override the important statutory responsibilities of other jurisdictions, such as those relating to the planning and approval of wind farms, large scale solar farms, storage facilities and new major transmission projects.
The role of the Commissioner has been extended until 31 October 2025. The role will be re-evaluated by the Australian Government prior to that date.
Our policies
The Office receives and handles complaints in accordance with our Complaints Handling Policy and Information Handling Policy.