At our first community sector roundtable for the year, the community support sector told the Essential Services Commission that in the first few months of 2022 they have seen ongoing hardship being experienced by many in the community, and emphasised the importance for customers to have access to utility concessions and consistent financial hardship support from energy retailers.
Representatives from 20 consumer and community support organisations attended last week’s roundtable meeting.
AGLA Vic Hydro Assets Pty Ltd (ACN 651 907 050) withdrew its licence application on 22 June 2022.
22 April 2022
Updated product application guide for water heating products
In conjunction with the New South Wales’ Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), we have integrated the application process for residential heat pumps and solar hot water heater products across the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program and New South Wales’ Energy Savings Scheme (ESS).
We set maximum fares for taxi services for the metropolitan Melbourne and the 'urban and large regional' taxi zones. We made our taxi fare determination for these taxi zones on 19 June 2014.
We determined that the fare levels for these zones would not change from what we recommended in March 2014 and were implemented by the Victorian Government on 19 May 2014.
The determination is based on our taxi fare review (completed in March 2014). We undertook
… accident towing fees review 2021 we reviewed the fees charged for vehicle towing and storage after an accident within melbourne and the mornington peninsula. breadcrumb home consultation paper 6 july 2021 2021-07-05 draft report 22 december 2021 2021-12-21 submissions closed 11 february 2022 2022-02-11 final report 1 april 2022 2022-04-01 overview we reviewed the fees … fees for the melbourne controlled area are appropriate and will be increased in line with current
Households on the Victorian default offer – the state’s regulated ‘fair price for electricity’ – will see a small increase of around $4 a month from 1 September following a decision by the state regulator.
The Minister for Public Transport asked us to conduct a review and provide a report on a 'fixed fare per head' pricing structure for a proposed late-night, share-ride taxi pilot program in Geelong.
The objective of the pilot service was to both grow the Geelong taxi market and to maximise taxi occupancy by providing an incentive for passengers to share a high occupancy taxi with others travelling in the same general direction. The scheme was to operate from the Safe Rank on
Penalty notices
13 July 2021
Origin Energy penalty notices 2021 (wrongful disconnection)
(pdf, 1.24 MB)
Further information
More information
Information on electricity licensing exemptions for sellers and suppliers
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Information for embedded electricity network customers
Our two submissions included a staff paper in response to the Inquiry's first consultation paper, and a submission in response to the inquiry's draft report.
On 1 July 2020, we introduced new rules to protect residential and small business consumers from unexpected energy price increases. These rules mean energy retailers are only allowed to increase prices once a year. For many customers, this will happen on a set date one month after network tariff prices change (usually on 1 August each year). Customers on fixed-price contracts will only experience any price increases on the
… and consumer service organisations. consumer policy research centre, brotherhood of st laurence, victorian council of social service, thriving communities partnership, consumer action law centre, financial counselling victoria, the energy and water ombudsman of victoria, community information and support victoria, ipc health, uniting, the federation of community legal services, hume riverina community legal services, justice connect, westjustice, council of small business organisations
Simply Energy has paid a $5000 penalty for the alleged wrongful disconnection of a visually impaired, elderly woman’s power and consequently her heating during a cold snap earlier this year.
Evidence obtained by the Essential Services Commission showed the customer called Simply Energy in April 2021 to let them know she was moving to a new house in May, but the company inadvertently disconnected her power 18 days early.
Penalty notice
13 August 2021
Simply Energy penalty notice 2021 (wrongful disconnection)
(pdf, 161.65 KB)
Further information
Penalty notices
16 September 2021
Origin Energy penalty notices 2021 (exit fees) - EIPN(E) 173-2021 to EIPN(E) 272-2021
(pdf, 23.68 MB)
16 September 2021
Origin Energy penalty
We conduct periodic reviews of accident towing and storage fees every four years. This review included an issues paper and a draft report. Interested stakeholders were invited to make submissions on both of these documents. We recommended that the current level of fees and annual productivity adjustment factor continue to apply. We also recommended that the Minister for Roads regulate basic salvage services and set a basic prescribed fee for these services.
On 23 July 2013,
Reforms to Victoria’s energy industry introduced by the Essential Services Commission are delivering a less confusing market, according to the latest report from the state’s independent economic regulator.
The March Victorian energy market update shows changes to the energy rules have helped simplify the market, making it easier for consumers to compare energy deals.
Acting executive director energy Dean Wickenton says the market is getting easier to navigate.
… no councils apply for above-the-cap variations for year ahead in nod to impact of pandemic 09 april 2021 all victorian councils will be held to the approved 1.5 per cent rate cap for the year ahead with none applying for an above the cap variation for the 2021–22 financial year. the essential services commission has confirmed that the 31 march deadline passed with no applications to exceed the rate cap set by the state government being received. the commission’s
The amount of household debt has escalated since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest data from Victoria’s independent economic regulator.
While the number of customers in debt to gas and electricity companies has slowly, but steadily increased, the amount owed has risen sharply and now stands at more than $103 million.
Penalty notices
20 April 2021
Powershop penalty notices 2021 (solar discrimination)
(pdf, 3.99 MB)
Further information