The average rate cap is set each financial year by the Minister for Local Government. Councils seeking to raise their average rates by more than the average rate cap must apply to us for a higher cap. Our guidance document for councils applying for a higher cap outlines in detail how we assess higher cap applications. We ask councils to address a range of matters in their application, including:
- the proposed higher cap for each specified financial year (up to 4 years
We are required to report every two years on the outcomes of rate capping in Victoria. We identify any impacts or trends that might be emerging. Our reports include information on councils’ service, infrastructure and financial outcomes.
View our latest outcomes report
Our latest outcomes report looks at what happened to the local government sector's finances under rate capping. The report also looks
Program statistics RegistryRegistry statistics as at 30 April 2024Certificates registered since 200984,644,547Certificates registered and available for surrender 11,238,9672023 compliance year target6,900,0002024 compliance year target7,100,000 For further certifi
Thousands of Victorian households and small businesses benefitted from the installation of more than four million energy efficient LED lights through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program in 2019.
The program’s latest performance report, released today, shows that in its 11 years, it has saved over 57 million tonnes in greenhouse gases and provided energy cost savings for many Victorians.
Winton Asset Co Pty Ltd (as trustee for Winton Asset Trust) (ACN 623 824 288) 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).The applicant proposed to generation electricity at the Winton solar farm located approximately 25km south-west of Wangaratta in north-central Victoria.Consultation on the application closed on 29 October 2020.We granted the licence on
… told commissioners their staff are holding up, but the cumulative effects of drought, bushfires and now the coronavirus pandemic have taken a toll. the roundtable heard the water businesses adapted quickly to the pandemic, increasing support for customers and adapting to new ways of working. a number of businesses said while their immediate focus
The number of water customers on hardship programs in metropolitan Melbourne grew by more than five per cent in September, according to the latest data collected by the state regulator.
… engaging with customers and providing support remains crucial to energy industry as we move to new normal 11 november 2020 providing new ways to encourage customer engagement and more support around disconnection advice were key messages heard at tuesday’s roundtable hosted by the state’s energy regulator. more than 50 representatives from the energy sector, peak industry bodies, government and support agencies joined the essential
Households in parts of Victoria’s south-east will get a temporary reprieve from planned water price rises with South Gippsland Water limiting increases to inflation only till later this year.
Victorian energy consumers and industry stakeholders are encouraged to have their say on how the energy regulator sets a fair price for the next Victorian Default Offer which is set to commence on 1 January 2021.
New data shows Victorians worried about paying electricity bills because of the coronavirus pandemic have been reaching out to electricity retailers with around 10,000 calls for help every week for the past few months.
The Essential Services Commission says data from Victorian electricity retailers shows 116,805 calls for help were made to retailers between 30 March and 31 May 2020.
The commission’s energy director Sarah McDowell says the number of calls highlights the importance of having the right
… powering new developments to get victorians in homes 30 june 2020 the state energy regulator is looking at how to turn the lights on faster at new victorian housing developments. the essential services commission is asking victorians to have their say on the best way to address electricity connection wait times in an … phone: (+61) 437 677 385 subscribe visit our newsletters page to subscribe to receive email updates from us. … The state energy
Victorian energy consumers can now sign up to a new energy deal with the assurance that prices won’t increase more than once every 12 months, with new rules taking effect today.
Energy companies are keeping customers connected to power during the coronavirus pandemic, but thousands of households are putting off paying their energy bills according to new data obtained by the state’s energy regulator.
… several of the major retailers repeated a commitment to keep victorian households and businesses connected, saying ‘everyone who asks for help gets help’. the big retailers urged the regulator to consider delaying compliance deadlines for new regulatory obligations which are due to come into effect in the near future. transcript good afternoon everyone and welcome to today’s energy industry roundtable. my name is kate symons and i am the chairperson of the essential services … to
On 19 March 2020, Real Utilities Pty Ltd (ACN 150 290 814) applied for a licence to sell gas by retail under section 25 of the Gas Industry Act 2001 (Vic) and a licence to sell electricity by retail under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).Consultation on the licence application closed on 16 April 2020. We did not receive any submissions. We granted the licences on 21 October 2020. The licences were last varied on 22 June 2022 (with effect
Most taxi users will save on taxi fares paid by non-cash methods with the state’s price regulator reducing the maximum surcharge that can be imposed for using common credit cards or other cashless options.
Federal and state energy regulators are keeping an eye on payment plan, hardship, disconnection and credit collection figures as energy businesses are called upon to put customers first during the current global health crisis.
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and the Essential Services Commission of Victoria today launched a joint effort to collect data to rigorously monitor the ability for energy customers to pay their energy bills in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
… the essential services commission recognises that the coronavirus crisis is creating significant challenges for the energy industry. we know the current crisis is likely to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities among your customers as well as create new ones, and this will be felt in the short and long term. we are committed to ensuring the voices of industry, inform our decision making. at this critical time, we want to hear from you about how this crisis is, or is likely to, affect your
Thursday 21 May, 3-4:30pm (via Zoom)
Essential Services Commission chairperson Kate Symons hosted a third community roundtable with 52 participants from community sector organisations and government. Participants shared insights into how coronavirus is impacting on the Victorian community and what trends are emerging.