Essential Services Commission

We promote the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services.

Featured work

A man sitting at a table looking over a series of charts

AGL Energy failure to provide 2017-18 performance report

AGL have advised us of potential inaccuracies in performance data they submitted for our Victorian Energy Market Report. We are examining the implications of AGL’s failure to provide timely and accurate data, including how it may have affected previous reporting periods.

Electricity and gas retail markets review implementation

We have released our draft decision on how we propose to implement recommendations from the retail markets review. We are seeking feedback on four key proposals in our draft decision, until 5 October.

New rules for embedded electricity networks

We have finalised rules applying to embedded electricity networks, which provide protections for people living in apartments, caravan parks and retirement villages who buy their electricity from private networks.

Victorian Energy Market Report 2017-18

Read our latest update on the Victorian energy market, for April to June 2018.

Latest News

08 October 2018

First steps taken in setting Goulburn Murray Water prices from 2020

The state’s water regulator has released two papers that provide a foundation for making pricing decisions for the nation’s biggest irrigation network, Goulburn Murray Water, from 2020 to 2024.

A close-up photo showing three gas burners turned on. Two gas burners are burning blue, while a third is burning orange.

Media releases

27 September 2018

Regulator awards customer $56,000 after AGL cut off gas for nearly four months

The state’s energy regulator has required AGL to pay $56,612 to a customer it wrongfully disconnected for nearly four months in 2017.

A close-up image of Australian five- and ten-dollar notes obscuring the face of a man featured on another Australian note.

Media releases

27 September 2018

Regulator considering rule change to address estimated bill shock

Victoria’s energy regulator is considering changing the rules to address community concerns about estimated bills after 5,000 complaints were made to retailers about the practice in 2017.

Sarah, an Essential Services Commission employee, in a garden smiling at something that is off-camera.

Staff articles

26 September 2018

Essential stories: Sarah, water team member

‘Hockey influences a large part of my life. I’ve spent numerous hours on the pitch, and it’s helped me make many memories with friends.

An image of John Hamill, commission CEO, sitting at a table and talking to someone nearby.

Staff articles

25 September 2018

From the CEO: our year, 2017-18

This year, our work has been dominated by two themes: implementing regulation that puts customers at the centre of what we do, and developing our approach to stakeholder engagement and better regulatory practice.

Image of solar panels in the foreground, with wind turbines in the background.

Media releases

24 September 2018

AGL pays $3 million in shortfall penalty

The state’s energy regulator has confirmed AGL has paid a shortfall penalty of almost $3 million after failing to surrender enough certificates to offset its liability under the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target scheme.

Featured consultations

View all current consultations

Goulburn-Murray Water price review 2020

We are seeking feedback on our Goulburn-Murray Water Price Review: Draft Guidance on Price Submission Under the WIRO, which is part of our work to regulate the prices that Goulburn-Murray Water will charge from 1 July 2020. Send us your feedback by 4 December 2018.