17 August 2021
Updates to product application guide for solar or heat pump water heaters
We have released an updated Water heating and space heating/cooling product application guide to clarify and update the following requirements:
Clarification/update
Victoria’s energy regulator is reviewing the effectiveness of the safety net designed to help anyone struggling to pay their energy bills to see how well it’s working to protect customers.
Accredited persons sought guidance on wood-fired room heater decommissioning, and the meaning of ‘permanently inoperable’ in this context.
The safety of professionals during the activity, and of residents and consumers after the activity, is our main concern. We sought feedback on:
- the appropriate level of assurance to demonstrate compliance with our regulations and safety considerations, and
- what other decommissioning methods might allow wood-fired room
The number of households needing help with water bills has hit a new peak as the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to be felt across the state.
New data from the Essential Services Commission shows the number of metropolitan customers being given hardship grants in February was higher than at any other time over the past year.
The commission’s water director Marcus Crudden says just under 200 metropolitan customers were awarded hardship grants each week in February.
26 March 2021
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(pdf, 141.67 KB)
1 April 2021
Building Based Lighting Upgrade Activity Guide
(pdf, 1.4 MB
Victoria’s independent economic regulator has reminded energy companies of their obligations to support struggling customers with disconnections rising sharply in recent weeks after being stopped for most of 2020.
The Essential Services Commission has extended temporary rules introduced in October 2020 that require energy companies to provide additional help beyond the existing safety net framework.
29 March 2021
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Switchable wattage lighting products (product category 34) consultation 2020
Victorian Big Battery Pty Ltd (ACN 644 584 421) applied for a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale, and to sell electricity by wholesale under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).The applicant proposed to generate electricity at the Victorian Big Battery located next to the existing Moorabool Terminal Station in Moorabool, approximately 13km North West of Geelong, in South Western Victoria. Consultation on the licence application
… amber electric pty ltd - electricity retail licence amber electric pty ltd was granted a licence to sell electricity by retail. breadcrumb home application 15 april 2021 2021-04-14 submissions close 13 may 2021 2021-05-14 licence granted 16 june 2021 2021-06-16 overview on 15 april 2021, amber electric pty ltd (acn 632 …
On 15 April 2021, Amber Electric Pty Ltd (ACN 632 603
A year on from the first lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Victoria’s water businesses continue to provide additional support to customers, with regional customers particularly hard hit.
Changes to low flow shower roses (activity 17)
Changes to low flow shower roses (activity 17)
29 April 2021
Changes to low flow shower roses (activity 17)
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(pdf, 97.38 KB
The state’s energy regulator has kicked off its next review of the Victorian Default Offer and is seeking feedback from consumers and the energy industry before issuing a decision later this year.
The Essential Services Commission today released a consultation paper setting out its proposed approach to setting the default offer price from 1 January 2022.
A report on Victoria's council rate capping system has found ratepayers on the whole are benefitting while councils were in a good place financially to respond to the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Essential Services Commission’s report found that rate caps cut the average annual increase above inflation to zero per cent.
Maximum fares levels remained unchanged in this review. However, we updated the mechanism for determining the airport rank fee that taxi drivers may charge passengers.
In October 2016, we released Updating the Schedule of Maximum Taxi Fares Document: Final Decision.
We don't determine what Melbourne Airport charges taxi drivers
While we determine how much taxi drivers can charge customers, we don't determine what Melbourne Airport charges taxi drivers for collecting
… electricians to be referred to police for alleged attempt to defraud energy efficiency scheme 24 may 2021 a case involving an alleged attempt to defraud australia’s biggest energy efficiency certificate scheme will be referred to police by victoria’s essential services commission. the attempted fraud came to light when an eagle-eyed member of the public tipped us off that some electricians were faking the … than $1.6 million*. the investigation found the companies had
Energy businesses say short term household debt has increased following the winding back of pandemic-related government financial support, but say they’re committed to helping customers stay connected.
28 October 2021
Changes to in-home display (activity 30) requirements
We have made the following changes to our requirements in response to some identified issues and feedback from accredited persons regarding the in-home display activity (activity 30) activity to gain assurance that IHD units are being installed correctly at consumers’ premises:
We have completed our annual review of the minimum feed-in tariffs that your energy company pays you for power you export to the grid via sources including solar panels.
From 1 July 2022, retailers will continue to be able to offer solar system owners a single rate feed-in tariff, a time-varying feed-in tariff or both.
Our final decision
Retailers can offer solar customers the minimum flat feed-in tariff and/or the time-varying feed-in tariffs for electricity exported
On 23 November 2021, Mortlake South Wind Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 622 271 363) applied for a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale, and to sell electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).
Consultation on the licence application closed on 21 December 2021. We did not receive any submissions.
We granted the licence on 8 June 2022. The licence was varied 30 May 2023.
Falling wholesale electricity prices are behind the state’s energy regulator cutting the default electricity offer by about five per cent.
Victorian households on the default electricity offer will see their annual bills dropping by an average $70 per year from 1 January 2022 while small business customers will save an average $336 a year.
Essential Services Commission pricing director Marcus Crudden says the decision will provide bill relief to around 200,000 households and 50,000 small businesses.