As Victoria's economic regulator, we promote the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services.
Who we are
Past strategies
Past strategies
Regulatory resources
Regulatory resources
In addition to the Essential Services Commission Act 2001, several documents make up the framework we use to promote the long term interests of Victorian consumers.
We enter into memorandums of understanding with various Victorian Government agencies. We also enter into memorandums with agencies who share an important working relationship with us.
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Overview
Our vision
Fair and dependable essential services, today and tomorrow.
Our purpose
We promote the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services.
Our role
The Essential Services Commission is Victoria's economic regulator.
We promote consumer interests by regulating Victoria's energy, water and transport sectors, and overseeing the local government Fair Go Rates system. We also regulate the Victorian Energy Upgrades program, which helps households and businesses cut their energy bills by supporting them to use energy more efficiently.
Our work touches the lives of every Victorian, and includes:
- setting energy and water prices
- enforcing consumer protections
- reporting on service standards and market performance
- determining local government rate cap applications.
Our values
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Impartiality
- Excellence
- Respect.
Our leaders
The commission is comprised of four commissioners. We also have a Chief Executive Officer who leads an executive team.
Gerard Brody – Commissioner and Chairperson
Gerard was appointed commissioner and chairperson in August 2024.
A leading consumer rights lawyer, Gerard has deep consumer policy, regulatory and legal experience, and a longstanding passion for improving the consumer experience.
Gerard is a former CEO of the Consumer Action Law Centre, an independent, not-for-profit consumer organisation.
Prior to taking up this role, Gerard served as Chair of both Community Legal Centres Australia and the Consumers’ Federation of Australia and has also served as a director for the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
Gerard holds degrees in Arts, Law and Public Policy from the University of Melbourne and is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course.
Rebecca Billings – Commissioner
Rebecca was appointed as a part-time commissioner in February 2020.
Rebecca is an economist with over 25 years' experience providing economic, regulatory and policy advice to government across a diverse range of regulatory frameworks.
Rebecca is also a Commissioner of the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA), a board member of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), and Chair of the National Regulators Community of Practice (NRCoP).
Rebecca is a consultant and has previously worked for PwC, NERA Economic Consulting, and Deloitte Access Economics.
She was previously a senior economist at the Department of Treasury and Finance, where she supported the implementation of the Reducing Regulatory Burden reforms.
Jess Young – Commissioner
Jess Young was appointed as a commissioner in June 2024. An expert in regulatory economics.
Jess was formerly the Director of Networks and DER Integration, at the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Prior to joining the Victorian Government, Jess was a Director at Deloitte Access Economics where she spent over 10 years advising regulators, state, commonwealth and overseas governments, and private sector clients, on regulation and energy market analysis and policy.
Elly Patira – Commissioner
Elly was appointed as a commissioner in November 2024.
A commercial lawyer and expert in participatory approaches to public policy-making, Elly has deep public administration, regulation and legal experience and a longstanding passion for improving outcomes for marginalised consumer groups.
Elly is a former CEO of Aboriginal Investment NT and served as interim chief executive of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, establishing Australia's first formal truth-telling body. Elly was also a founding director of Australian Lawyers for Remote Aboriginal Rights.
She has held senior executive roles within the Victorian Public Service, most recently as the Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations Group at the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Elly holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Melbourne and a Masters in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford.
Sarah Sheppard – Chief Executive Officer
Sarah was appointed Chief Executive Officer in August 2023. Sarah joined the commission as Executive Director of Energy in April 2021.
Sarah has degrees in law and arts from the University of Adelaide and has extensive experience in economic regulation and the energy sector. This includes six years with the Victorian Government, a decade at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and experience as a competition lawyer in the private sector.