Australian Energy Regulator
This memorandum of understanding seeks to:
- foster a cooperative working relationship between the parties
- avoid unnecessary overlap or conflict between the parties' respective performance of their functions and exercise of their powers
- provide for an information sharing arrangement between the parties in accordance with section 60E of the Essential Services Commission Act and
1 April 2019
Wattly Pty Ltd compliance breach decision
(docx, 24.31 KB)
1 April 2019
Media release: Commission demands installer make good for falsely claiming energy efficiency activities
We issue price determinations that approve the maximum prices water businesses may charge. The prices we approve reflect an assessment of the efficient costs water businesses need to recover to provide valued services to customers.
We release tariff schedules that set out the maximum prices a business may charge in any year.
Our latest work
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
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.
We have updated our charter of consultation and regulatory practice with the aim of:
- promoting best-practice engagement and regulatory practice
- focusing on embedding principles that promote fit-for-purpose engagement that encourages continuous improvement
- contributing to achieving our legislative objectives.
Most Victorian customers are placed on a standard contract with their electricity distribution business, known as ‘deemed distribution contracts’. These contracts describe the obligations for both distributors and customers.
We have approved variations to these contracts after considering proposals from electricity distribution businesses.
The changes to the contract, and our final decision, are detailed in the Deemed Distribution Contract Variations: Final Decision. Copies
The commission has granted Gannawarra Solar Farm Pty Ltd (ABN 33 615 895) a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale at a solar farm located west of Kerang in north-western Victoria. The licence was granted under section 19 (1) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) on 14 March 2018.
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
We have conducted a review of the length of the period of North East Water’s eight-year price determination.
View North East Water’s submission and our letter to North East Water outlining our decision on the continuation of the determination.
We have completed our review of the prices that 17 Victorian water businesses will charge from 1 July 2018.
Our determinations set out the prices from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2023, except for:
- North East Water: 1 July
… hardship related guaranteed service level measures review 2011 we developed 'guaranteed service level' resources to help water businesses support customers experiencing financial hardship. breadcrumb home project started 2000-01-02 project completed 2001-01-02 overview water businesses are required to provide minimum levels of service to customers. these are called ‘guaranteed service levels’ and relate to things including communication with customers,
21 March 2017
Overview of the Port of Melbourne and the Essential Services Commission’s regulatory roles
We are responsible for administering a number of new economic regulatory functions applying to the leased Port of Melbourne. This information paper describes the relevant aspects of the lease of the Port of Melbourne and our roles
In response to recommendations from Victoria's Royal Commission into Family Violence, we amended our water customer service codes to require water businesses to provide assistance to customers and staff experiencing family violence.
Family violence resources
Family violence resources for businesses
The Victorian Government asked us to verify that customers were repaid certain amounts in relation to the construction of a desalination plant.
We released a paper, Opinion Report - Return of Additional Desalination Payments, that outlined whether an additional return of desalination funds to customers was appropriate (on top of those being returned via the 2012-13 price freeze).
We also released quarterly progress reports and an independent audit report
We approved a mechanism to allow Barwon Water to apply for tariff adjustments to deal with the impact of uncertain and unforeseen events.
Examples of uncertain and unforeseen events that could justify an application under this mechanism include:
- significant changes in the timing or costs associated with major capital (or other) projects
- significant differences between actual and forecast demand levels
- changes in legislative and other Government
Resources
How we regulate commercial passenger vehicles
Find out more about how we regulate taxis and other commercial passenger vehicles
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Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act 2017
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
A new report has found customers experiencing family violence are getting more support from water businesses after customer protections were strengthened by the state’s independent economic regulator.
The research report looked at how the state’s water businesses were implementing new rules developed by the Essential Services Commission following the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Commission director Marcus Crudden says the research shows water companies are acting with more sensitivity toward
The port of Melbourne and its tenants use contracts to set property rents for Port of Melbourne land.
This was our first five-yearly inquiry on the Port of Melbourne's process for setting land rents. It involved assessing whether the port's rent-setting process negatively affects consumers.
Our inquiry assessed the setting and reviewing of land rents at the Port of Melbourne covered the period 1 November 2016 to 31 October 2019.
The inquiry
The Compliance and Performance Reporting Guideline sets out what retailers and distributors need to report to us. To help ensure we receive the correct information, we ask regulated businesses to use reporting templates we have created.
This decision focuses on amending the reporting guideline so that it aligns with new customer entitlements that came into effect on 1 July 2019.
We also made administrative changes to the reporting guideline that affect both energy retailers and