A new report shows Victorian water and sewerage bills fell slightly on average in 2020–21, continuing the relatively steady or slight declines seen in customer bills since 2018-19.
The state’s pricing regulator is preparing to look at the maximum fares payable by passengers for catching a cab on the street.
Victoria’s new regulatory sandboxing framework enabling innovators to trial new products and services in the energy market commenced on 1 June 2022.
New provisions in the Electricity Industry Act 2000, the Gas Industry Act 2001 and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 provide the commission new powers to grant a time-limited trial waiver to innovators who sell, supply, generate or transmit electricity, or sell or supply gas. This will allow the trialling of
On 29 June 2021, Simply Energy paid penalties of $2.5 million in relation to the alleged fraudulent transfer of 525 gas and electricity accounts at 264 properties without any contact to obtain explicit informed consent.
In addition to this, between January 2019 and January 2021, Simply Energy had self-reported approximately 60 breaches where customers were not provided with accurate information, leading to lack of explicit informed consent.
We identified changes in the product class assigned to 18 refrigerated cabinet products (product category 32(21)) in the Register of Products for the VEU program (see table below). These changes were required due to changes in the GEMS register since we first listed these products in October 2021. The latest GEMS register has clarified the correct product class for the affected products.
The update to the
31 March 2022
The commission and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning have received feedback from stakeholders about the refrigerated cabinet activity, with concerns raised that cabinets are being installed at inappropriate business premises and in inappropriate numbers.
The Essential Services Commission has published a new compliance and enforcement policy, setting out its approach to using new compliance and enforcement powers.
Accel Energy Retail Pty Ltd (ACN 122 144 709) withdrew its licence application on 22 June 2022.
Our procurement activities are underpinned by high levels of probity, accountability and integrity.
Policies
The Victorian Government Purchasing Board sets the policies that govern procurement of non-construction goods and services across all Victorian government departments and some specified entities.
We are committed to ensuring our procurement activities comply with the board’s policies and procedures.
The board's procurement framework is supported by five policies.
They are:
18 December 2020
Your feedback on switchable wattage lighting products (product category 34)
(pdf, 158.72 KB)
18 December 2020
The issue involving products with switchable wattage setting
A key role of the commission is to safeguard the integrity of the VEU
Following advice from the Essential Services Commission, the Minister for Local Government, Shaun Leane has announced council rates will be capped at 1.5 per cent for the year ahead.
Victorian councils now have until 31 March 2021 to apply for an increase above the 1.5 per cent cap.
The average rate cap set is the maximum percentage increase allowable in councils’ average rates for the forthcoming financial year.
Download this update as a PDF
(pdf, 111.31 KB)
11 January 2021
We have reviewed the stakeholder feedback to our consultation process for the proposed evidentiary requirements for high-bay product replacements1.
We have updated our Building Based Lighting Upgrade Activity Guide
Victoria’s economic regulator is calling for feedback on proposed new customer service standards from electricity distributors aimed at reducing the time taken to connect electricity to new Victorian housing developments.
The proposed standards have been developed by distributors following a review by the Essential Services Commission aimed at addressing extensive wait times for connections in greenfield development areas.
Acting director of energy Dean Wickenton says the new standards will be helpful
On 9 February 2021, GEE Power & Gas Pty Ltd (ACN 636 908 220) applied for a licence to sell electricity by retail under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and a licence to sell gas by retail under section 25 of the Gas Industry Act 2001 (Vic)
Consultation on the licence application closed on 11 March 2021. We did not receive any submissions.
We granted the licences on 15 December 2021.
Hundreds of Victorian water customers are continuing to receive assistance to cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest data from the state’s regulator.
The Essential Services Commission data shows water businesses are continuing to reach out to customers, including small business and other non-residential customers.
The Essential Services Commission welcomes the Port of Melbourne’s withdrawal of its rebalancing application.
The commission consulted on the port’s application over four weeks from December 2020 until 1 February. During this process, a host of issues were raised by stakeholders which led to a series of discussions with the Port of Melbourne over recent weeks and ultimately, resulted in withdrawal of the application.
The commission notes the port’s commitment to providing further opportunities to port
This review considered three key regulation matters related to regular and heavy vehicle accident towing:
- Should fees be regulated?
- Are the existing boundaries of the Melbourne controlled and Geelong self-management areas appropriate?
- Should accident towing jobs should be allocated, or should operators should be free to compete for towing jobs?
Customers of 15 of Victoria’s water businesses will continue to have a chance to talk service levels and prices with their provider, as a new round of price reviews kicks off.
Tilt Renewables Retail Pty Ltd (ACN 133 552 539) has applied for a licence to sell electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).
We may grant or refuse to grant applications for any reason we consider appropriate having regard to our objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic).
We granted the licence on 18 May 2022.
We received feedback from stakeholders on evidence requirements for the cold room activity (activity 43) under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.
In addition, stakeholders have also sought clarification on the eligibility of upgrades that include some shared components servicing multiple cold rooms at a single site.
This consultation seeks to:
- outline our position on cold room upgrades involving shared compressor(s) and/or condenser(s) across multiple cold