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 group of energy efficient light bulbs hanging from a roof, with one lit up

Victorian Energy Upgrades 2018 performance report

Our 2018 performance report provides information on application assessments, certificate creation, compliance matters, product approvals and other key work delivered during 2018. We have also published a data dashboard that provides access to program performance data since 2009.

Victorian Energy Market Update: September 2019

We have released our latest Victorian Energy Market Update, with information about the market largely covering April to June 2019.

Victorian Default Offer price review

We have released our draft ruling on the default price for electricity from 1 January 2020, and are seeking feedback until 17 October.

Port of Melbourne market rent inquiry

This will be our first inquiry to assess the use of market power in setting and reviewing land rents at the Port of Melbourne.

Latest News

An image of the cover of the Essential Services Commission Annual Report 2018-19. The cover shows four people in different boxes smiling directly at the camera.

Media releases

17 October 2019

Commission continues to deliver for Victorians

Victoria’s economic regulator has continued to demonstrate its value by holding the providers of essential services to account from penalising electricity retailers for breaching the energy rules, to keeping a lid on water bills and council rates.

Speeches

08 October 2019

Kate Symons: Victorian Default Offer fundamental to reform program

Read the speech given by Commissioner and Chairperson Kate Symons, delivered on 8 October 2019 at our Victorian Default Offer forum.

Media releases

04 October 2019

Energy saving program driving down state’s emissions

Victorians are helping to drive down the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by taking advantage of discounted energy-efficiency products available through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

A photo showing a young girl pressing a light switch on a wall.

Media releases

26 September 2019

Energy disconnections down by more than half

The number of Victorian households being disconnected for unpaid energy bills has fallen by 53 per cent since changes to energy rules came into effect on 1 January this year.

Cartoon image of a container ship being loaded at a port

Media releases

26 September 2019

Spotlight on Port of Melbourne rents

Victoria’s economic regulator will be checking whether charges issued by Australia’s largest port mean consumers are paying more for everyday goods coming through the port.

Media releases

20 September 2019

Independent regulator releases draft decision on default electricity price for 2020

The state’s independent economic regulator has released its draft ruling on the default price for electricity for 2020 with prices set to rise slightly in line with inflation.

If approved, the Essential Service Commission’s draft decision would apply from 1 January 2020.

Featured consultations

View all current consultations

Victorian Default Offer price review

We have released a draft ruling on our price determination for the Victorian Default Offer to apply from 1 January 2020, and are seeking feedback until 17 October.

Port of Melbourne market rent inquiry

This will be our first inquiry to assess the use of market power in setting and reviewing land rents at the Port of Melbourne. We have released a scoping paper and are seeking feedback until 25 October 2019.