We have released our final decision on the Quiet Lakes bore flushing tariff.
Our final decision considers Melbourne Water’s proposal and the legislation and regulation that guides our pricing role. We considered all feedback from our consultation process.
View the amendment to the determination made during Melbourne Water’s 2016 price review Melbourne Water Price Review 2016 – Determination amendment 1.
Final decision
The final decision to amend the
… water price review 2018 we reviewed the prices that 17 victorian water businesses will charge from 1 july 2018. price submissions lodged 29 september 2017 2017-09-29 customer submissions close 10 november 2017 2017-11-10 draft decisions released 28 … may 2018 2018-05-09 final decisions 19 june 2018 2018-06-19 implementation 1 july 2018 2018-07-01 overview we have conducted a review of the length of the period of north east water’s eight-year price
We approve the annual tariffs that regulated water businesses charge their customers in each financial year.
We reviewed the proposed 2018‑19 prices from Goulburn-Murray Water to ensure they are consistent with our current determination. Once a tariff is approved, we publish the maximum annual tariffs.
View price proposals and outcomes for other Victorian water businesses in our water price review 2018.
Feedback from key stakeholders
We accepted
… supplying gas or selling gas to retail customers in victoria must hold a licence granted by us, or be exempt from this requirement. when we grant an electricity or gas licence, we must consider our objectives, including the long-term interests of victorian consumers in relation to the price, quality and reliability of energy supply. we will not grant an application for a licence unless we are satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated: they are a fit and proper
… comes into force on 1 january 2023. (pdf, 435.68 kb) electricity licensing exemptions customer dispute resolution scheme if you fall into the 'registration' or 'multiple activities' licensing exemption categories, you must become a member of an approved dispute resolution body. we have approved the energy and water ombudsman (victoria) as a customer dispute resolution scheme. (, ) … 7505 … 7510 … 7511 … 7513 … How to register for an electricity
Unaccounted for gas (UAFG) is the difference between the measured quantity of gas entering the gas distribution system from various supply points and the gas delivered to customers. This review calculated new benchmarks for the calendar years 2018 to 2022.
The new benchmarks apply to Australian Gas Networks (formerly Envestra), MultiNet and AusNet Services. The benchmarks commenced when they were declared by the Minister for Energy in an Order published in the Government
… care for environment’s victorian energy upgrades accreditation suspended – effective immediately 24 december 2024 the essential services commission has suspended the accreditation of carers club australia pty ltd (trading as care for environment ) in the victorian energy upgrades (veu) program for allegedly breaching the program’s rules. an initial investigation identified alleged breaches involving the creation of non-compliant victorian energy efficiency certificates
The Essential Services Commission has banned accredited business Carers Club Australia Pty Ltd (trading as Care for Environment) from the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program for alleged rule breaches. The VEU is an energy efficiency program, designed to help Victorians cut their energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Accredited businesses undertake energy efficiency upgrades that entitle them to create certificates, which they can then sell.
We assess or reject applications for council rate caps higher than the cap set by the Minister for Local Government each year.In 2025, we received two applications to exceed the 3.0 per cent council rate cap set by the Minister for Local Government for 2025–26 from Hepburn Shire Council and Indigo Shire Council.Higher caps applied for and approvedThe following table outlines the higher caps that were sought (including minister's rate cap) for each financial year, and what we
More information
Supreme Court of Victoria judgement
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Media release: Origin penalised $17.6 million for failings affecting over 650,000 customers
March 2025
Australia’s largest energy retailer, Origin Energy, has been ordered to pay $17,605,000 by the Supreme Court of Victoria after admitting to breaches of Victoria’s energy rules that affected 668,750 customers.This is the largest financial penalty for breaches of Victoria’s energy rules in the state’s history. Between them, Origin Energy Electricity Limited and Origin Energy (Vic) Pty Limited admitted to:
In 2013, the Victorian Government introduced flexible pricing of electricity made possible by the roll out of ‘smart meters’. The Advanced Metering Infrastructure Order in Council 2013 provides for some new customer protections and other arrangements for the introduction of flexible pricing later in 2013.
Following review of related instruments, we released our Changes to Regulatory Instruments Relating to Flexible Pricing: Final Decision.
6 May 2025 The commission has taken enforcement action against accredited businesses Accurate Marketing Pty Ltd (trading as Glow Green) and B&G Green Trading Pty Ltd (trading as Aussie Greenmarks) for allegedly breaching the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program rules.
Licences grantedTelstra Energy (Retail) Pty Ltd was granted electricity and gas retail licences on 15 December 2021.Licences variedThe licences were last varied on 7 May 2025.
The Essential Services Commission is proposing new rules to require energy retailers to move certain customers onto cheaper plans. The commission estimates these rules would have saved customers an average of around $225 on electricity and $182 on their gas each year.
… indigo shire's request for higher rate cap approved 19 may 2025 following a request from indigo shire council, the essential services commission has approved an application for a higher rate cap of 7.54 per cent for the 2025-26 financial year, 4.54 percentage points above the 3 per cent cap set by the minister for local government. the rate increase is offset by the council’s plan to remove its … please contact: email: media@esc.vic.gov.au phone: (+61) 437 677
The Essential Services Commission has released its final decision on the Victorian Default Offer to apply from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.
… first peoples – state relations group at the department of premier and cabinet, responsible for nation-leading work in the areas of social, economic and cultural rights, self-determination, treaty and truth-telling. having previously 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. bringing experience from prior roles
The Essential Services Commission has commenced public consultation on proposed consumer reforms to help Victorian households access cheaper energy deals and increase support for consumers experiencing payment difficulty.Essential Services Commission Chairperson Gerard Brody says the commission is seeking input from consumers, advocates, energy retailers and the broader industry on these important reforms.