The Clean Energy Regulator conducts annual audits for the previous reporting year to educate scheme participants and confirm their compliance with the legislation. Some audits are also conducted where there is evidence of non-compliance. Audits may involve:
- conducting a site visit
- requesting to look at various records, design drawings, and internal information technology systems to cross check data and internal processes, and
- ongoing communication to resolve outstanding audit issues.
Selecting candidates for audit
Audit candidates are selected through an internal risk assessment process that is based on, but not limited to:
- issues identified during assessment of annual energy acquisition statements, large-scale generation shortfall statement, small-scale technology shortfall statement, electricity generation returns or solar water heater and small generation unit returns
- certificate creation history
- overall compliance with the legislation
- any number of issues associated with an accredited renewable energy power station, and
- information used for the assignment and creation of small-scale technology certificates.