Annual reports

Our annual reports review our performance for each financial year. In 2020–21, our annual report showed how we ensured Victorians had ongoing access to essential services that are reliable and at fair prices.

From our chairperson

When I look back over the past year and the hurdles the pandemic has presented, I’m incredibly proud at how we have adapted to continue to deliver positive outcomes for Victorians. Notwithstanding the uncertainty; the resilience, integrity and flexibility shown by staff has been extraordinary.

We delivered many firsts this year. Our first inquiry into the setting of land rents at the Port of Melbourne. Our first strategy to improve access to essential services for people experiencing vulnerability.

Our first enforcement matter where an energy business paid more than one million dollars after they placed conditions ahead of offering payment assistance to customers, contrary to the energy safety net.

At the same time, we continued to deliver for Victorians every day across our usual work program. Approving new energy generation and retail licences. Making pricing decisions to ensure Victorians have access to a fair price for electricity. And administering the biggest energy certificate program in Australia, giving households and businesses access to discounted products and services.

- Kate Symons, Chairperson of the Essential Services Commission 

From the CEO

In 2020–21 the pandemic turned from being a sprint to a marathon. While we adapted to the emergence of the pandemic in early 2020 early signs of moving to a much-vaunted hybrid working environment evaporated when the Delta strain led to further extended periods of working from home.

While we transitioned from the pandemic being a business continuity challenge to a kind of new normal, the ongoing impact on staff and our stakeholders presented its own predicament. It required a remarkable amount of resilience and resolve we could only have imagined we were capable of before the pandemic.

- John Hamill, CEO of the Essential Services Commission

View more about our leaders.

Our three-year strategy 

Our strategy 2021–24: Delivering for consumers was updated in 2021 to reflect a changing world. It describes our priorities and how we are adapting in the face of these changes to reinforce our standing as a leading regulator.

	Our powers and functions are proposed to undergo legislative reform over the coming years.
	The coronavirus pandemic has affected our operating environment, consumers and the businesses we regulate, and has dramatically changed the economic environment.
	Climate change and the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather is driving demand for greater energy efficiency and innovation, and putting greater demands on infrastructure.
	Regulators are increasingly being challenged to take more effective and proportionate enforcement action.
	The increasing use of data and knowledge is driving changes to technology requirements, privacy considerations and decision-making.
	Understanding how our role affects customers experiencing vulnerability has become critical to our work in promoting the long term interests of Victorians.

Financial overview 

Our primary fiscal objective is to minimise our costs to government and our fee-paying industries, while maintaining our effectiveness and quality of services.

In 2020–21 the commission achieved an operating surplus of $0.278 million, $0.129 million higher than in 2019–20. The following summary of our financial performance shows the movements in actual income, expenses, balance sheet items and net cash flow.

Financial summary for 2020-21

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