Doorknocking and telemarketing now banned under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program

Victorian consumers are protected from unwanted marketing visits and phone calls to their homes and businesses about the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program. 

From today (1 August 2024), doorknocking is banned under the VEU program. This follows the ban on ‘cold-call' telemarketing that took effect on 1 May 2024. 

The Victorian Government introduced the bans to protect consumers from problematic telemarketing and doorknocking practices under the program. 

Businesses must now obtain consumer consent before visiting or telephoning them to market energy efficient upgrades, products and services under the VEU program. This empowers consumers to choose whether they want to be contacted. 

The Essential Services Commission continues to engage and support VEU accredited businesses and scheme participants to help them comply with the bans. The commission will actively monitor compliance with the bans through an expanded range of tools, such as consumer surveys, audits, and by investigating complaints.

The commission has strong enforcement powers, including the power to institute civil litigation or criminal prosecution proceedings against businesses that do not comply with the bans. We will also consider issuing penalty notices and imposing conditions, suspending or cancelling accreditation. 

Essential Services Commission Acting Chairperson and Commissioner Sitesh Bhojani said the commission takes breaches of the bans seriously and will monitor industry compliance. 

“Accredited persons and scheme participants must comply with the bans and put consumer rights and choice at the centre of their practice.

“We encourage consumers and industry to report breaches of the bans directly to us so we can investigate and act,” said Commissioner Bhojani. 

Breaches of the doorknocking and telemarketing bans should be reported to the commission via 03 9032 1310 or veu@esc.vic.gov.au. 

Guidance and resources about the ban for consumers and industry are available on our website via the links below.  

About the Victorian Energy Upgrades program 

The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program helps Victorians reduce their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions by providing access to discounted energy efficient products and services. The program also encourages investment, employment and innovation in industries that supply these products and services. 

Large energy retailers are required to acquire and surrender Victorian energy efficiency certificates (VEECs) to meet annual targets set in Victorian legislation. ‘Accredited persons’ that carry out eligible upgrade activities by installing energy-efficient products in residential or non-residential premises can create VEECs. 

The greenhouse gas savings associated with the installation of an energy efficient product and/or decommissioning of an inefficient product determines the number of VEECs that can be created. The level of incentive or discount received by households and businesses varies depending on the market activity and certificate price.