Every second year we receive a statement of expectations from the Assistant Treasurer. The statement sets out the minister’s expectations of our contribution to the Victorian Government’s regulatory reform program.
Ministerial statement of expectations
Every second year we receive a statement of expectations from the Assistant Treasurer. The statement sets out the minister’s expectations of our contribution to the Victorian Government’s regulatory reform program.
The statement of expectations identifies areas where we can improve our performance to reduce the cost of regulation on business and the community. It outlines key objectives and targets which we will report on in our annual reports. The key areas for improvements, and the key activities we will undertake to achieve them, are:
|
Key area |
Expectation |
Related work program activities |
|---|---|---|
|
Promoting the development of a low-cost, competitive energy sector |
Monitor the market and behaviour of regulated entities. |
Publish annual and quarterly reports on the Victorian energy market. Public monthly data and observations about Victorian energy customers during the coronavirus pandemic. Report on the competitiveness and efficiency of the Victorian energy retail market. |
|
Provide compliance assistance and advice. |
Develop and implement new education programs and guidance to better inform the energy industry about their compliance obligations. |
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|
Collaborate with other regulators including Consumer Affairs Victoria, the ACCC and the Australian Energy Regulator. |
Establish regular meetings with the Australian Energy Regulator, Consumer Affairs Victoria, ACCC and privacy commissioners by March 2021. |
|
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Take a range of enforcement actions. |
Publish strategic compliance and enforcement priorities. |
|
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Develop key performance indicators to track its progress. |
Targets will be developed and regularly reported to the Assistant Treasurer |
|
|
Improving electricity connections for new developments |
Work with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to prioritise reforms to ensure faster and more transparent electricity connections at new Victorian housing developments. |
Develop measures to promote timely connections for greenfield sites. Hold regular coordination meetings with DELWP to ensure our regulatory and legislative reforms are aligned. |
|
Regulation of the waste and recycling sector |
Work with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to design and implement the new Waste Act during 2021. |
Provided advice to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change on a regulatory framework for waste and resource recovery sector in October 2020 |
|
Timeliness of regulatory processes |
Review and improve the energy licensing application processes, framework and public guidance to facilitate appropriate entry into the energy market in Victoria (particularly for energy generation). |
Improve information provided to licence applicants through a new guidance note and application form. Develop and implement new education programs and guidance to better inform the energy industry about their compliance obligations. |
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|
Reduce application processing times to increase the capacity of the Victorian Energy Upgrades scheme to handle business forms by 10 per cent. |
Continuing to develop an upgraded VEU IT system Target: 90% of accreditation and additional activity applications assessed within processing timeframes. |
|
Risk-based strategies focusing on low income and vulnerable consumers |
Improve how the commission considers the benefits of regulation for low income and vulnerable consumers across all regulatory functions. |
Develop and publish a vulnerability strategy by June 2021 after extensive consultation with a key stakeholders and consumers
|
|
Stakeholder consultation and engagement |
Promote community engagement through multiple channels to complete the digital strategy by November 2020. |
Publish the digital strategy and commence implementation of recommended priorities. Review online engagement in 2020 to capture the benefit with a view to embedding this learning in future practice. |
|
Role clarity |
Review all existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and update as necessary. |
A review of all existing MOUs will be undertaken by June 2021, with MOUs updated or removed in consultation with the other parties during 2021. |