APS AI Tracker

CER

Clean Energy Regulator

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Tracked since 3 Dec 2025 · 1 change of substance across 2 captures · last changed 26 Feb 2026

The story so far

How to read this

  1. First captured by the tracker.

  2. substantive Complete rewrite: the Regulator now discloses active AI use, names a Chief AI Officer appointed July 2025, and adds risk, training and prohibition commitments.

    read by Claude Opus 5
    • Removed: earlier claim that it does not currently use AI in any services or advice
    • Discloses live AI use: Microsoft 365 Copilot for staff productivity, image analysis for compliance reviews, anomaly detection for fraud and SRES compliance
    • Chief AI Officer appointed July 2025; accountable officials expanded to include CAIO alongside Chief Data, Risk and Information Officers
    • Technology Strategy and Change Committee named as primary AI oversight body, replacing the former AI steering committee
    • New commitment not to deploy public-facing AI without disclosure, human-in-the-loop escalation, accuracy safeguards and accessibility
    • New prohibitions: no automated compliance/enforcement/eligibility decisions, no sensitive data in training or prompts without assessment, no AI-issued regulatory notices
    • Commits to an AI Use Case Register and risk-based suitability assessments, with pausing or discontinuation if thresholds are missed
    • Mandatory staff AI training, extra training for Copilot users and specialist training for those managing AI systems
    • Adds list of legislative and policy commitments (Privacy Act, FOI, Archives, PGPA, PSPF, ISM, AI Ethics Principles)
    • Removed: named automation examples (solar panel verification, preload geoprocessing service for ACCU Scheme)
    • Commitment dropped (will): Consider all AI use cases against compliance with legislation, regulations, statutory requirements and the AI policy
    • Commitment dropped (will): Provide regular updates on AI initiatives and outcomes on our website
    • Commitment dropped (will): Update this statement to outline AI use, why we use it, and how we monitor effectiveness
    • Commitment: no public-facing AI without a human added
    • Chief AI Officer: not mentioned → in place
    • Domain added: compliance and fraud detection
    • Domain added: corporate and enabling
    • Domain added: service delivery
    • Named tool added: Microsoft 365 Copilot
    • New commitment (will not): Won't automate compliance, enforcement or eligibility decisions without human review and approval
    • New commitment (will not): Won't deploy public facing AI without user disclosure, human in the loop escalation, accuracy safeguards and accessibility consideration
    • New commitment (will not): Won't generate or issue regulatory notices or legal instruments without human validation and sign off
    • New commitment (will not): Won't train or prompt AI with sensitive or personal information unless expressly assessed and approved
    • New commitment (will not): Won't use generative AI for forecasting or analytical outputs without human validation, provenance controls and audit capture
    • New commitment (will): Complete a risk-based AI suitability assessment and testing against risk controls before any development or deployment
    • New commitment (will): Maintain an AI Use Case Register, updated when use cases are approved or material changes occur
    • New commitment (will): Pause or discontinue AI use if risk thresholds, accuracy metrics or safeguards are not met
    • Safeguard added: acceptable use policy
    • Safeguard added: privacy or security controls
    • Safeguard added: risk assessment
    • Safeguard added: staff training
    • Safeguard added: testing or evaluation
    • Safeguard added: use case register
    • Staff training: not mentioned → mandatory
    • Usage pattern added: analytics for insights
    • Usage pattern added: image processing
    • Usage pattern added: workplace productivity
    • AI use-case register: not mentioned → planned
    • Public-facing AI use: none → with human review
    • Review cadence: annual and on change → annual
    Show the words that changed ↓

What the statement says

How to read this

The Clean Energy Regulator now says it uses AI to improve the quality, efficiency and integrity of its regulatory functions --- enterprise tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot for staff productivity, plus image analysis and anomaly detection under development for compliance and fraud work --- with all decisions affecting people or scheme eligibility made by staff. Governance sits with a Chief AI Officer appointed in July 2025, three other accountable officials and the Technology Strategy and Change Committee, backed by risk-based suitability assessments, a planned AI Use Case Register and mandatory staff training. read by Claude Opus 5

What it says AI is used for

  • Workplace productivity
  • Image processing
  • Analytics for insights
  • Service delivery
  • Compliance and fraud detection
  • Corporate and enabling

Named tools: Microsoft 365 Copilot

Public-facing AI: yes, with human reviewcommits to a human intermediary

Safeguards named: risk assessment, human review of outputs, testing or evaluation, use-case register, staff training, a governance body, privacy or security controls, an acceptable-use policy

Against the Standard 7/8

  • Intentions behind AI use
  • Use classified by DTA usage pattern or domain
  • Public-facing use addressed
  • Monitoring and protection measures
  • Compliance with the policy
  • Compliance with legislation
  • Date last updated
  • Public contact

What the policy requiresPolicy v2.0

Accountable official
Chief Data Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Information Officer and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (overall accountability with the Chair as Accountable Authority)
Strategic position on AI
not mentioned
AI use-case register
planned
Staff training
mandatory
Policy version referenced
unspecified version

What the AI Plan asksAI Plan

Chief AI Officer
in place (Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer)

Currency as of 29 Aug 2026

Review cadence
annually
Says it was last updated
no date given
Last change we observed
26 Feb 2026
Updated since policy 2.0
yes

Commitments

  • will notWon't deploy public facing AI without user disclosure, human in the loop escalation, accuracy safeguards and accessibility consideration
  • will notWon't automate compliance, enforcement or eligibility decisions without human review and approval
  • will notWon't train or prompt AI with sensitive or personal information unless expressly assessed and approved
  • will notWon't generate or issue regulatory notices or legal instruments without human validation and sign off
  • will notWon't use generative AI for forecasting or analytical outputs without human validation, provenance controls and audit capture
  • human oversightAI will help, not replace, human decision-making; human-in-the-loop review and approval of all critical decisions
  • willReview and update this AI transparency statement annually, or when new factors impact it
  • willRegularly review AI practices to align with ethical standards and not perpetuate biases or discrimination
  • willComplete a risk-based AI suitability assessment and testing against risk controls before any development or deployment
  • willMaintain an AI Use Case Register, updated when use cases are approved or material changes occur
  • willPause or discontinue AI use if risk thresholds, accuracy metrics or safeguards are not met

The statement

How to read this

We use artificial intelligence (AI) in carefully managed and transparent ways to support our role as Australia’s independent economic regulator accelerating carbon abatement.

We use AI to improve the quality, efficiency and integrity of our regulatory functions. AI helps us analyse data, detect anomalies, and streamline internal processes. All decisions that affect people, organisations or scheme eligibility are made by Clean Energy Regulator staff, not AI.

We review this statement at least once a year, updating it as our AI use matures.

We'll consider AI use to provide analytics for and insights into the schemes we regulate on behalf of the Australian Government. We're using, developing and considering AI in the following usage patterns and domains.

We're using, developing and considering AI in line with common Australian Government AI usage patterns and domains. See the classification system for AI use for more information.

We allow our staff to use AI in their work with the objective of enhancing productivity and service delivery. This includes enterprise AI deployed in our internal ICT environment like Microsoft 365 Copilot.

  • assist in the creation of government documents
  • assist with research and analysis
  • summarise data across multiple sources
  • interrogate, analyse and obtain insights from datasets
  • answer questions from staff regarding workplace policies, procedures and processes
  • assist in the analysis, creation or summarisation of documents, emails or other content
  • create and debug code used in data analysis, management and processing
  • assist in the creation of meeting minutes or interview transcriptsAlso appears in 1 other agencyANMM
  • search information repositories and retrieve documents, information or data.

We're developing AI assisted image analysis to support compliance reviews, subject to human review and confirmation.

We're investigating the use of AI to support our staff to:

  • assist with routine administrative tasks and information analysis
  • improve collaboration and documentation practices
  • support efficient drafting of standard content, subject to human review.

Compliance and fraud detectionAlso appears in 8 other agenciesAGDATODAFFDFATDHACOPCRAMSERVICESAUSTRALIA

  • AI tools to spot unusual patterns that may indicate non-compliance or fraud
  • AI under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to support compliance monitoring, including identifying potentially non-compliant claims or data discrepancies for human review.

We're investigating the use of AI to support corporate functions, including HR, finance, media and communications, and IT to improve operational efficiency.

We're committed to open communication about our AI use. AI contributes to information or insights but does not make regulatory decisions. Any AI derived advice that affects people or regulated entities is reviewed and approved by trained Clean Energy Regulator staff.

We won't deploy public facing AI without user disclosure, a clear human in the loop escalation path, defined accuracy safeguards and accessibility consideration.

How we assess and manage risks

We assess and monitor all AI systems to ensure they are safe, transparent and appropriate for our regulatory responsibilities. Our risk and assurance approach includes:

  • completing a risk-based AI suitability assessment before any development or deployment
  • testing and evaluating AI systems against agreed risk controls and thresholds before they are used
  • monitoring the effectiveness of deployed AI systems on an ongoing basis and subsequent reassessments are conducted periodically or when triggered by significant changes such as model updates, new data sources, or incidents
  • applying stronger safeguards for higher risk use cases
  • pausing or discontinuing use if risk thresholds, accuracy metrics or safeguards are not met.

We'll maintain an AI Use Case Register that describes each use case and corresponding risk-based AI suitability assessment. The register will be updated when new use cases are approved for deployment or when material changes occur.

This process aligns with the Australian Government Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government and incorporates additional oversight for higher risk or higher impact AI use.

We're committed to the ethical use of AI. Our systems are developed and deployed with fairness, accountability, privacy, protection, security, reliability, safety, contestability and transparency in mind. We review our practices regularly to ensure they meet ethical standards and do not introduce bias or discrimination.

To protect the public and scheme integrity, we won't:

  • automate compliance, enforcement or eligibility decisions without human review and approval
  • train or prompt AI systems with sensitive or personal information unless expressly assessed and approved (for example, through a privacy impact assessment and security review)
  • generate or issue regulatory notices or legal instruments without human validation and sign off
  • use generative AI to produce forecasting or analytical outputs without human validation, provenance controls and audit capture.

Staff capability and training

We build staff AI capability through a community of practice, supporting knowledge sharing and safe adoption, and through targeted training such as prompt engineering skills aligned to our regulatory purpose. These activities ensure staff can use AI confidently, responsibly, effectively and in ways that strengthen our regulatory functions.

All Clean Energy Regulator staff are required to complete mandatory training on the responsible use of AI in line with the Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government. Staff with access to agency approved enterprise-wide AI systems such as Copilot are required to complete additional training and to read and accept updated ICT conditions of use. Additional specialist training is provided for staff who procure, develop or manage AI systems.

Legislative, policy and standards commitments

Our AI use is governed by Australian Government legislation and policy. We commit to comply with, and be guided by, the following (as applicable):

  • Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles
  • Freedom of Information Act 1982
  • Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013Also appears in 1 other agencyCCA
  • Protective Security Policy Framework
  • Australia’s AI Ethics PrinciplesAlso appears in 6 other agenciesACQSCARTDPSHOUSEREPSOSGGPBO
  • Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government.Also appears in 5 other agenciesACQSCADHAAICAIFSASSEA

We have matured our governance arrangements to ensure strong oversight of AI, in line with the Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government.

  • Overall accountability rests with the Clean Energy Regulator Chair, as Accountable Authority.
  • The Senior Leadership Team provides executive oversight of AI risk, compliance and outcomes.

Chief Artificial Intelligence OfficerAlso appears in 1 other agencyNAA

In July 2025, we appointed a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) to lead AI capability uplift, maturity, and responsible adoption of AI across the agency.

  • oversees implementation of AI initiatives
  • provides guidance on risk, ethics, security and compliance in the use of AI
  • develops and reviews measures to monitor AI effectiveness
  • ensures our alignment with Australian public service wide AI policy requirements.

All AI initiatives progress through our established governance and change pathways. The Technology Strategy and Change Committee (TSCC) is the primary oversight body for AI across the agency.

  • provides whole of agency oversight of AI use
  • advises the Senior Leadership Team on the impacts of AI enabled initiatives
  • oversees the AI Use Case Suitability Assessment process.

The TSCC is chaired by the General Manager of Transformation and Chief Data Officer and includes AI accountable officials as members, providing collective oversight of our AI initiatives.

Our accountable officials for AI are:

  • Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.Also appears in 1 other agencyNAA

These officials share responsibility for:

  • assessing internal AI proposals
  • managing risks associated with the use of AI
  • implementing the Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government
  • ensuring the safe deployment of AI tools
  • conducting ongoing reviews of the suitability and appropriateness of AI use over time.

We use the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development definition of AI:

An AI system is a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments. Different AI systems vary in their levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment.Also appears in 16 other agenciesAASBACCCACMAACQSCAERAFSAAICAIFSARPANSAARTASSEAAUASBAUSTRADEBOMFWCPC

For questions about how we use AI, contact ai@cer.gov.au.

Our reports and accountability

We exercise our powers as a regulator in a transparent and accountable manner.

Statement text © Clean Energy Regulator, reproduced for transparency tracking (most agency content is CC BY 4.0 — check the original for specifics).

Every revision

Every capture the daily scrape recorded that differed from the last, including edits with no change of substance. Pick a dot to view the statement as it stood at that capture.

  1. substantive+5117

    Complete rewrite: the Regulator now discloses active AI use, names a Chief AI Officer appointed July 2025, and adds risk, training and prohibition commitments.

    read by Claude Opus 5
    View diff
    We are committed to using technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance our capability to be an efficient and effective economic regulator accelerating carbon abatement for Australia. We don’t cuse artificial intelligence (AI) in carefully managed and transparent ways to support our role as Australia’s independent economic regulator accelerating carbon abatement. We use AI to improve the quality, efficiency and integrity of our rently use AI in any of the services or advice we provide. As we adopt AI capabilities, we will update this statement to outline: - its use - why we use it - how we'll monigulatory functions. AI helps us analyse data, detect anomalies, and streamline internal processes. All decisions that affect people, organisations or scheme eligibility are made by Clean Energy Regulator staff, not AI. We review this statement at least once a year, updating it as our AI use matures. ## How we use AI We'll consider AI use to provide analytics for and insights intor the effectiveness of its use. We will review this AI transparency statement and update it annually, or when any new factors impact this statement. ## Background The Digital Transformation Agency's [policy for the responsible use of AI in government](https://architecture.digital.gov.au/responsible-use-of-AI-in-government) sets out the Australian Government's approach to embracing AI's opportunities. It also provides for the safe and responsible use of AI. Transparency is critical to building public trust and is an important aim of the policy and broader APS Reform agenda. #### Definition of AI We use the [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development](https://oecd.ai/en/ai-principles) definition of AI: An AI system is a mschemes we regulate on behalf of the Australian Government. We're using, developing and considering AI in the following usage patterns and domains. We're using, developing and considering AI in line with common Australian Government AI usage patterns and domains. See the [classification system for AI use](https://www.digital.gov.au/policy/ai/resources/use-classification) for more information. ### Usage patterns #### Workplace productivity We allow our staff to use AI in their work with the objective of enhancing productivity and service delivery. This includes enterprise AI deployed in our internal ICT environment like Microsoft 365 Copilot. Our staff use AI to: - assist in the creation of government documents - assist with research and analysis - summarise data across multiple sources - interrogate, analyse and obtain insights from datasets - answer questions from staff regarding workplace policies, procedures and processes - assist in the analysis, creation or summarisation of documents, emails or other content - create and debug code used in data analysis, management and processing - assist in the creation of meeting minutes or interview transcripts - search information repositories and retrieve documents, information or data. #### Image processing We're developing AI assisted image analysis to support compliance reviews, subject to human review and confirmation. ### Domains #### Service delivery We're investigating the use of AI to support our staff to: - assist with routine administrative tasks and information analysis - improve collaboration and documentation practices - support efficient drafting of standard content, subject to human review. #### Compliance and fraud detection We're developing: - AI tools to spot unusual patterns that may indicate non-compliance or fraud - AI under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to support compliance monitoring, including identifying potentially non-compliant claims or data discrepancies for human review. #### Corporate and enabling We're investigating the use of AI to support corporate functions, including HR, finance, media and communications, and IT to improve operational efficiency. ## Transparency We're committed to open communication about our AI use. AI contributes to information or insights but does not make regulatory decisions. Any AI derived advice that affects people or regulated entities is reviewed and approved by trained Clean Energy Regulator staff. We won't deploy public facing AI without user disclosure, a clear human in the loop escalation path, defined accuracy safeguards and accessibility consideration. ## How we assess and manage risks We assess and monitor all AI systems to ensure they are safe, transparent and appropriate for our regulatory responsibilities. Our risk and assurance approach ine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environcludes: - completing a risk-based AI suitability assessment before any development or deployment - testing and evaluating AI systems against agreed risk controls and thresholds before they are used - monitoring the effectiveness of deployed AI systems on an ongoing basis and subsequent reassessments are conducted periodically or when triggered by significant changes such as model updates, new data sources, or incidents - applying stronger safeguards for higher risk use cases - pausing or discontinuing use if risk thresholds, accuracy metrics or safeguards are not met. We'll maintain an AI Use Case Register that describes each use case and corresponding risk-based AI suitability assessments. Different AI systems vary in their levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment. ## PThe register will be updated when new use cases are approved for deployment or when material changes occur. This process aligns with the [Australian Government Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government](https://www.digital.gov.au/ai/ai-in-government-policy) and incorporates additional oversight for higher risk or higher impact AI use. ## Ethical principles - We aWe're committed to the ethical use of AI. Our AI systems will bare developed and deployed with fairness, accountability, privacy, protection, security, reliability, safety, contestability and transparency in mind. We will regularly review our AI practices regularly to ensure they align withmeet ethical standards and do not perpetuatintroduce biases or discrimination. - We will use our AI systems to help, not replace, human decision-making. Human-in-the-loop will ensure all critical decisions are reviewed and approved by qualified public officials to ensure accuracy and accountability. - We are transparent about our AI use and its impact. We provide regular updates on our AI initiatives and their outcomes on our website. - We will consider all AI use cases against our compliance with legislation, regulations and requirements under all relevant statutory bodies and the[ policy for responsible use of AI in government](https://architecture.digital.gov.au/responsible-use-of-AI-in-government). ## Governance Our accountable officials enable and prepare, responsibly engage with, and evolve and integrate AI. These are the: - Chief Data Officer and primary official - Chief Information Officer - Chief Risk Officer. These officials report to our Chair (accountable authority) and convene an AI steering committee (chaired by the Chief Data Officer) to oversee and drive our AI capability maturity. Our AI investment and implementations will be governed through existing transformation and sustainment governance arrangements. ## Use of AI We will consider AI use to provide analytics for and insights into the schemes we regulate on behalf of the Australian Government. We will also consider AI use in the following usage patterns and domains. ### Workplace productivity Show \_\_ - Automation of repetitive tasks - Data-driven decision augmentation - Advancing collaboration - Efficient content creation ### Service delivery Show \_\_ We are already using automation for efficient and effective activities, such as in the: - solar panel verification arrangements for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme - preload geoprocessing service, that has automated the upload and processing of geospatial datasets for the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme. We will investigate the use of AI to provide further efficiencies in our verification processes. ### Compliance and fraud detection Show \_\_ We will look to use AI to: - monitor for anomalies in usage patterns to detect potential fraudulent activities in the government schemes we administer - continue to analyse AI trends and consider how emerging products and approaches can further strengthen our cyber security posture. For questions or further information about our AI usage, contact [ai@cer.gov.au.](mailto:ai@cer.gov.au) To protect the public and scheme integrity, we won't: - automate compliance, enforcement or eligibility decisions without human review and approval - train or prompt AI systems with sensitive or personal information unless expressly assessed and approved (for example, through a privacy impact assessment and security review) - generate or issue regulatory notices or legal instruments without human validation and sign off - use generative AI to produce forecasting or analytical outputs without human validation, provenance controls and audit capture. ## Staff capability and training We build staff AI capability through a community of practice, supporting knowledge sharing and safe adoption, and through targeted training such as prompt engineering skills aligned to our regulatory purpose. These activities ensure staff can use AI confidently, responsibly, effectively and in ways that strengthen our regulatory functions. All Clean Energy Regulator staff are required to complete mandatory training on the responsible use of AI in line with the [Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government](https://www.digital.gov.au/ai/ai-in-government-policy). Staff with access to agency approved enterprise-wide AI systems such as Copilot are required to complete additional training and to read and accept updated ICT conditions of use. Additional specialist training is provided for staff who procure, develop or manage AI systems. ## Legislative, policy and standards commitments Our AI use is governed by Australian Government legislation and policy. We commit to comply with, and be guided by, the following (as applicable): - _Privacy Act 1988_ and the Australian Privacy Principles - _Freedom of Information Act 1982_ - _Archives Act 1983_ - _Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013_ - Protective Security Policy Framework - Information Security Manual - Australia’s AI Ethics Principles - Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government. ## Governance We have matured our governance arrangements to ensure strong oversight of AI, in line with the [Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government](https://www.digital.gov.au/ai/ai-in-government-policy). - Overall accountability rests with the Clean Energy Regulator Chair, as Accountable Authority. - The Senior Leadership Team provides executive oversight of AI risk, compliance and outcomes. ### Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer In July 2025, we appointed a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) to lead AI capability uplift, maturity, and responsible adoption of AI across the agency. The CAIO: - oversees implementation of AI initiatives - provides guidance on risk, ethics, security and compliance in the use of AI - develops and reviews measures to monitor AI effectiveness - ensures our alignment with Australian public service wide AI policy requirements. ### Governance committees All AI initiatives progress through our established governance and change pathways. The Technology Strategy and Change Committee (TSCC) is the primary oversight body for AI across the agency. The TSCC: - provides whole of agency oversight of AI use - advises the Senior Leadership Team on the impacts of AI enabled initiatives - oversees the AI Use Case Suitability Assessment process. The TSCC is chaired by the General Manager of Transformation and Chief Data Officer and includes AI accountable officials as members, providing collective oversight of our AI initiatives. ### Accountable officials Our accountable officials for AI are: - Chief Data Officer - Chief Risk Officer - Chief Information Officer - Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. These officials share responsibility for: - assessing internal AI proposals - managing risks associated with the use of AI - implementing the Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government - ensuring the safe deployment of AI tools - conducting ongoing reviews of the suitability and appropriateness of AI use over time. ## Definition of AI We use the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development definition of AI: An AI system is a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments. Different AI systems vary in their levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment. ## More information For questions about how we use AI, contact [ai@cer.gov.au](mailto:ai@cer.gov.au). ## Find out more Corporate #### Our reports and accountability We exercise our powers as a regulator in a transparent and accountable manner. [ arrow_right_alt ](https://cer.gov.au/about-us/our-reports-and-accountability)
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