3 May 2019
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We have updated the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Obligations and Program Guide for Accredited Persons to reflect that accredited persons (APs) must ensure that installers are equipped with safe
Victorian consumers will have access to a new energy fact sheet so they can more confidently compare electricity and gas offers following a decision of the state’s energy regulator.
Under new rules set by the Essential Services Commission, retailers will have to provide customers with a fact sheet showing key information about available energy offers. Customers can access the fact sheets when they look at energy plans on retailers’ websites.
1st Energy has paid a penalty of $20,000 following the issue of a penalty notice by the commission.
The commission alleged that 1st Energy failed to obtain the explicit informed consent of a customer before arranging to transfer the customer to 1st Energy.
16 May 2019
1st Energy penalty notice (explicit informed consent
Our review of the water industry standards identified updates that would strengthen consumer protections, especially for people facing financial difficulties. The review was informed by the effects on customers of significant events such as the coronavirus pandemic as well as the increased support being offered by water businesses, which often goes beyond the minimum requirements set out in our customer service codes.
At the same time, changes in our
Moorabool South Wind Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 136 355 863) applied for a licence to generate electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). The applicant proposed to generate electricity at the Moorabool south wind farm, approximately 67km west of Melbourne.The commission may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason it considers appropriate having regard to the commission’s objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic)
… in 2018, we asked deloitte to audit this retailer on certain topics. view all energy business audit reports . audit results here is what the auditors found in each area, including a grade (green, yellow or red). compliance and performance reporting 1st energy’s controls failed to ensure it was fully compliant in managing its compliance and performance reporting obligations. 1st energy was unable to provide auditors with information on the number of hardship customers
… for the energy and water ombudsman. covau had previously selfidentified and reported the potential breach to the commission. covau has since reviewed and updated its disconnection warning notices and provided remediation to affected customers. complaints and dispute resolution covau’s complaints and dispute resolution controls were assessed as adequate and effective. tariff variation determination covau’s tariff variation controls were assessed as adequate and
… diamond energy’s disconnection and reconnection controls were assessed as adequate and effective. the auditor recommended diamond energy consider updating its guidance and training documents, and review the wording of its disconnection notices. complaints and dispute resolution diamond energy’s complaint and dispute resolution controls were assessed as adequate and effective. tariff variation determination diamond energy’s controls failed to ensure it was compliant in meeting its
The Victorian Default Offer allows every Victorian household and small business to ask for a default offer from their electricity retailer from 1 July 2019. We were responsible for recommending to the Victorian Government what the offer (price) should be.
The Victorian Government has released our final advice on the Victorian Default Offer to apply from 1 July 2019, in response to the terms of reference issued in December 2018
Streamlining compliance and enforcement
We have released our final decision on the revised energy compliance and enforcement policy. Having been introduced in 2016, we considered it timely to review the policy and determine whether it was effectively and efficiently delivering outcomes for consumers.
The revised policy moves away from prescribing, in detail, our compliance and enforcement pathway. Instead, it sets out our broad approach to
Dundonnell Wind Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 133 651 019) 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 application proposed to generate electricity at the Dundonnell wind farm located approximately 23 km north-east of Mortlake in Western Victoria.
Submissions on the application closed on 16 October 2019.
We granted an electricity generation
Energy rights campaign
It's your energy, Victoria
Find out more about the new reforms giving Victorians the power to make the most of their energy.
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Ahead of our 2019 public education campaign around energy
SmartestEnergy Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 632 313 029) applied for a licence to sell electricity by retail under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).We may grant or refuse to grant the application 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).Consultation on the licence application closed on 15 September 2020.We granted the
Access resources to help councils comply with rate caps, and view our reporting on compliance.
Guidance to help councils comply with rate caps
Access resources that help councils comply with annual rate caps.
Victorian small business and residential customers on a default electricity offer could see their annual bills reduced, under a proposal by the state energy regulator.
Glenrowan West Solar Farm Pty Ltd (ABN 49 620 923 748) has applied to the commission for a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale, and to sell electricity by wholesale, under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).
We may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason we consider appropriate having regard to our objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services
… forum with around 200 representatives from consumer and community groups and the energy and water sectors this week. in launching the project, commission chairperson kate symons said the consumer vulnerability strategy is about ensuring the voices of vulnerable consumers are central to decision making. “we need to be assured vulnerable consumers have access to the essential services they need, along with appropriate support. “this year alone, between bushfires and now the pandemic,
A new report shows Victoria’s water businesses have largely delivered on their promises to customers over the past year, despite facing challenges from the summer bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic.
… proposed evidence requirements and clarification on decommissioning requirements for activity 34 we have conducted an audit investigation into led high-bay installations claimed under building based lighting upgrade (activity 34). breadcrumb home proposed evidence requirements and clarification on decommissioning requirements for activity 34 proposed changes to evidence requirements for high bay product
Residents of Bacchus Marsh, Gisborne, Sunbury, Melton, Macedon and Lancefield will have typical water bill increases held to inflation for a year to recognise the impact on household budgets due to coronavirus.