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31 October 2024
Media release - Victorian energy retailers surrender over 6.2 million certificates to offset energy emissions in 2023
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How we regulate the VEU program
OverviewWe are responsible for setting and annually reviewing the Victorian Default Offer prices. The default offer is designed to be a simple, trusted and reasonably priced electricity option that safeguards customers who are unwilling or unable to engage in the electricity market. We have set the Victorian Default Offer prices to apply from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. How cost components and annual bills will change under our final decisionChange in the average
19 November 2024This update shares insights from the first year under the new Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) accreditation rules, our focus for upcoming accreditations, and information about improvements to help accredited persons. We expect accredited persons to continuously review and improve their performance, with a focus on compliance in areas where we identify elevated risks. Together with the new assurance audit program and enhanced enforcement tools, these changes protect consumers and
The review was conducted in the context of the legislative, regulatory, and ownership arrangements that applied at the time. It did not consider the future potential ownership arrangements of the Port of Melbourne.
The review covers only those port services that are prescribed by the Port Management Act 1995.
Current and past Statement of Regulatory Approach are available in the Resources tab.The Statement provides guidance to the Port of Melbourne about how it can achieve compliance with pricing order and the commission's interpretation of key clauses within the order.
In May 2018, we amended the guidelines to:
- incorporate the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (Project-Based Activities) Regulations 2017
- provide advice to scheme participants on how to apply for and carry out project-based activities
- reflect the introduction of our compliance and enforcement policy
- provide additional advice to scheme participants on processes.
We reviewed administrative requirements for Schedule 11 (ceiling insulation) and Schedule 12 (under floor insulation) of the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Regulations 2008.
Our VEET Insulation Administrative Requirements: Consultation Paper informs accredited persons, industry stakeholders and other interested parties on the proposed administrative requirements that will support and enable the re-introduction of insulation activities into the VEET scheme. The
Our Goulburn-Murray Water Price Review 2016: Final Decision also covers tariff structures and service standards.This completed our review of the maximum prices that Goulburn-Murray Water may charge for irrigation and drainage, bulk storage, diversion services and miscellaneous services.
We reviewed Goulburn-Murray Water’s price proposal under the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules. We applied to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
We released a final decision regarding Melbourne Water's pricing proposal for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2021.
Our release of Melbourne Water Price Review 2016: Final Decision completes our review of the maximum prices that Melbourne Water may charge for its services for this fourth regulatory period.
Melbourne Water is the wholesaler of water, sewage treatment and recycled water for Melbourne. It also has responsibilities for waterway health and storm water
Coliban Water submitted their pricing proposal for rural prices from 1 July 2014.
We assessed the proposal and released our Coliban Water Rural Price Review: Final Decision.
We then released our Melbourne Water Patterson Lakes Special Drainage Area Price Review 2014-15 to 2015: Final Decision.
In 2012, the former Minister for Energy and Resources asked us to consider harmonising our codes and guidelines with the national energy customer framework and the National Energy Retail Law (Victoria) Bill 2012.We reviewed relevant codes and guidelines to ensure that:
- they aligned more effectively with the framework and new legislation
- the updates did not reduce key protections for Victorian customers.
In 2011, Lockstep Consulting was engaged by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to undertake a Privacy Impact Assessment of Victoria’s smart metering program. The report looked at whether smart meters affected customer privacy in relation to interval metering, remote communication and control capabilities, and management and design of the metering system.
The Minister for Energy and Resources asked us to:
- consider the relevant
We publish water industry standards, codes and guidelines that impose certain obligations on regulated Victorian water businesses.We also report on how well these businesses comply with these water industry standards, codes and guidelines.
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We sought and obtained assurances that EnergyAustralia was taking effective action to rectify breaches that were still continuing, and had successfully completed remedial action for others.
EnergyAustralia continued to report to us on its progress towards full compliance.
We consider the undertaking discharged (finalised).
The Victorian Government’s General Exemption Order (a key document related to electricity licensing exemptions) specifies that most exempt persons, such as embedded electricity networks in some apartment buildings, shopping centres, caravan parks and retirement villages, must join a customer dispute resolution scheme by 1 July 2018.
We have approved the Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria) (EWOV) as a customer dispute resolution scheme for the purposes of the
‘Fixed benefit’ periods are a feature of some customer’s energy contracts. They are typically a set period of time during which a discount or benefit applies. For example, a 20 per cent discount for the first 12 months of a two year contract.
In early 2018, we changed the Energy Retail Code so that energy retailers in Victoria must notify customers when any 'fixed benefit' periods change or end.
From February 1 2018, retailers in Victoria are required to notify customers
Latest insight
16 May 2025
Customers on older plans significantly better off on their retailer’s best offer
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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 2013 to 2017.
The benchmarks apply to Envestra (now Australian Gas Networks), MultiNet and AusNet Services. The benchmarks commenced when they were declared by the Minister for Energy in an Order published in the Government Gazette
Our findings will help us understand and assess higher cap applications that cite growth as a key reason for needing additional revenue above the minister’s cap.
We conducted this review in response to an independent review of our first year implementation of the Fair Go Rates system in 2016, which recommended a review into any special financial issues associated with growth area councils.
Feedback on the study
To view submissions, visit Arup’s Growth Study Report.