From 1 July this year, households and small businesses will no longer face big penalties for missing an energy bill with the state’s energy regulator putting a cap on what retailers can charge you for not making a payment on time.The Essential Services Commission has set a cap of 3.62 per cent on new energy contracts entered into from 1 July 2020, slashing the potential cost of missing a payment in half.Commission chairperson Kate Symons says limiting how much you’ll pay for missing a deadline will help
11 June 2020
Media release: Dodgy invoices found during alleged misconduct investigation of energy efficiency company
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11 June 2020
Cyanergy compliance breach
… ensure you are treated fairly once you have signed on with an energy retailer. new offer deals if you sign up to a new offer with a discount, credit or rebate, your retailer must provide that benefit for the entire duration of the contract. limits on price increases retailers can only increase prices once a year. for many customers, this will happen on a set date one month after network tariff prices change. customers on fixed-price contracts will only
Around 50 representatives from energy businesses, peak bodies and government came together today for a second industry roundtable, hosted by the Essential Services Commission and its chairperson Kate Symons, to understand the impact of coronavirus on the sector and on Victorian customers.
The roundtable heard there was concern that various support programs like JobKeeper and JobSeeker are likely masking a bigger problem that will emerge later in the year.
Victorian small businesses and households experiencing payment difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic stand to benefit from rule changes to be proposed by the state energy regulator.
The Essential Services Commission has published today a draft set of measures aimed at helping customers experiencing financial difficulties to pay their electricity and gas bills.
Proposed measures include giving small businesses an entitlement to access flexible payment options and advice on better priced offers.
Our ‘Getting to fair’ strategy was released in August 2021. The strategy gives us a roadmap to address consumers' experience of vulnerability and break down the barriers they can face.
The aim of the strategy is to create fairer more equitable access for all Victorians, regardless of which of our regulated services they use.
All customers benefit from this approach, but particularly people who may be struggling with changes in circumstances or who are
The Victorian energy regulator has issued new guidance to ensure households and small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic are protected as required by the state’s energy rules.
The Essential Services Commission administers the Victorian Energy Retail Code which contains some of the strictest customer protections in the nation.
… minimum feed-in tariff review 2021-22 in february 2021 we completed our review of the 2021-22 minimum feed-in tariffs. energy retailers must pay you at least the minimum for power you export to the grid from small renewable energy sources including solar panels. breadcrumb home draft decision released 17 november 2020 2020-11-16 consultation closed 8 … throughout our review. we considered stakeholders' feedback
10 September 2020
People Energy certificate shortfall decision
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16 November 2020
Media release: People Energy pays penalty for failing to meet energy efficiency obligations
Meeting with the heads of power companies last week, Essential Services Commission chair Kate Symons, said the latest data shows more signs of energy stress are emerging.
“Average debt for residential customers who can’t pay for their ongoing usage has increased to $1,588, 13 per cent higher than in April.
Victoria’s energy regulator has required People Energy to pay a $335,550 penalty after it failed to surrender enough certificates to offset its liability for the 2019 compliance year under the largest energy efficiency program in the country.
The Victorian Energy Upgrades program helps households and small businesses cut their energy bills by installing more energy efficient products. The program is funded by energy retailers who purchase certificates in proportion to the volume of electricity and gas
This guidance note is no longer in force.
Current maximum embedded network pricing
The General Exemption Order, which outlines embedded network rules, includes rules about the maximum pricing that an embedded network can charge a customer.
The coronavirus pandemic continues to have significant financial impact on Victorian households and small businesses, according to the state’s independent economic regulator.
However, the Essential Services Commission says it is too early to tell whether the staged reduction of the JobSeeker and JobKeeper allowances is further affecting the situation.
Lighting product application guide
More resources are available on the VEU product applicants page.
31 July 2020
Lighting Product Application Guide
(pdf, 439.95 KB)
Where to get help
If
Victorian households and small businesses who are having trouble paying their water bills due to the coronavirus pandemic now have access to greater customer protections.
Fewer households are reaching out to their energy companies for help, but Victoria’s small businesses are falling further behind with their bills due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
New data* from the Essential Services Commission shows calls for help and the proportion of residential customers who cannot pay at all have fallen to their lowest level since April.
During the coronavirus pandemic, we are regularly requesting data from Victorian water businesses on the number of water customers who:
- are on payment instalment plans
- are in hardship programs
- have received a water business hardship grant
- have applied for the utility relief grant
- have their water supply restricted.
Victorian water customers are moving onto hardship programs in record numbers during the coronavirus pandemic, new data collected by the state regulator shows.
Proposed changes to product type and certificate creation for building based lighting upgrades (activity 34)
15 September 2020
Proposed changes to product type and certificate creation for building based lighting upgrades (activity 34)
(pdf, 264.72 KB