On 30 June 2022, Hazelwood BESS Project Co Pty (ACN 643 891 703) 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).
Consultation on the licence application closed on 28 July 2022. We did not receive any submissions.
We granted the licence on 10 August 2022.
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.
With the current benchmarks set to expire at the end of 2022, we have published our final decision. This sets updated benchmarks to apply to gas distributors (Australian Gas Networks, AusNet Services and Multinet Gas) for the next regulatory period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028.
The final
9 September 2022
We are continuing our assessment of pending certificate claims for refrigerated cabinet installations to review whether they comply with the program rules.
Our review initially focused on claims that have a lower per premises certificate total. We have assessed and processed over 90 per cent of these non-duplicate lower risk claims. The remainder certificate claim assessments require action from the accredited persons involved.
Licence granted
Elysian Energy Pty Ltd was granted a licence on 19 December 2018.
The Essential Services Commission initiated a retailer of last resort process for Elysian Energy Pty Ltd on 2 September 2022.
Licence revoked
Elysian Energy Pty Ltd's licence was revoked effective from 10 October 2022.
We have completed our review of the maximum prices and service levels to apply for Southern Rural Water customers from 1 July 2023.
We conducted our assessment against a legal framework established by the Victorian Government and set out in the Water Industry Regulatory Order (PDF), and the commission’s PREMO pricing framework.
You can find out more on how we engaged on this review at Engage Victoria. You can also view our final decision
A small dip for household water bills is on the cards after a review of Melbourne Water’s pricing plan by the state’s independent water regulator.
In 2009, we recommended that all accident towing and storage fees be increased by 12.5 per cent and then be adjusted annually for inflation, minus a productivity adjustment factor.
The Minister for Roads made a determination that reflected these recommendations. We also made a recommendation that salvage charges be regulated, which the minister did not implement.
“If we’ve learned anything over the past year, it’s that vulnerability is something that can happen to anyone at any time, it’s not something you are.”
Kate Symons, chairperson Essential Services Commission
The Essential Services Commission has reduced the amount energy retailer can charge customers who do not make their payment on time to 3.1 per cent – a reduction of 0.52 per cent.
Commission executive director energy Sarah Sheppard said the cap had been designed to protect Victorians from being stung by a high penalty price if they miss a bill payment.
“Limiting the amount paid for missing a deadline helps reduce bill shock for households and small business,” she said.
Increasing debt for Victorians struggling to pay their energy bills is just one part of the story behind new data being shared by the state's energy regulator.
The Essential Services Commission has completed a review of 12 months of data showing the impact of the pandemic on energy hardship for Victorian households and small businesses.
Chair Kate Symons says the commission worked closely with the energy sector and consumer organisations to support vulnerable consumers through the economic shock of the
The Essential Services Commission is assessing an application from Telstra Energy (Retail) for a licence to sell electricity and a licence to sell gas to Victorian consumers.
In line with legislative requirements* and to facilitate a fair and open process in relation to a licence application that may have a significant impact for Victorian consumers, the commission is calling for feedback from the community through Engage Victoria.
More than 100 representatives from 31 energy retailers have been told threatening struggling customers with disconnection as a debt collection strategy would not be considered ‘best practice’ according to national and state based regulators of consumer law.
We determine the maximum charges for taxi services in the Melbourne metropolitan taxi zone (the metropolitan zone) and the 'urban and large regional' taxi zone (the urban zone).
Our last maximum taxi fare determination was made on 19 June 2014. We are required to review determinations within two years of their making.
This review was completed on 17 June 2016 with the release of our final report and 2016 determination. Our review resulted in the following decisions
Average water bills will fall for more than two million metropolitan Melbourne households following a ruling by Victoria’s independent regulator.
On 28 January 2022, Kiata Wind Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 607 460 873) applied to us under section 31 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) seeking approval to transfer its electricity generation licence in respect of the Kiata Wind Farm to Kiata ProjectCo Pty Ltd (ACN 645 707 517).
On 23 February 2022, the application for transfer was granted, having regard to our objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic).
Feedback
A new report released by the Essential Services Commission highlights its strong expectation that energy businesses will comply with the energy rules.
28 April 2022
Changes to the Register of Products and activity guide for refrigerated cabinets
We will be making changes in the product class assigned to the below sixteen refrigerated cabinet products (product category 32(21)) in the Register of Products for the VEU program effective from 7 May 2022 as per table below.
Victoria’s energy regulator says it is rebuilding trust in the energy market by upholding consumer rights when energy companies fail to follow the rules.
The Essential Services Commission has issued $5 million in penalty notices since October 2018 with energy businesses paying a record $2.5 million last financial year alone.
Lead enforcement commissioner Sitesh Bhojani says acting against misbehaving energy companies ensures a level playing field for those who do play by the rules.
We have completed our review
We released our final decisions on the maximum prices 14 Victorian water businesses will charge for its services from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028.
How this affects you
The 14 water businesses included in our review provide water and sewerage services to domestic, business and rural customers across Victoria.
Our determination impacts how much customers will pay for the services they receive from their water business, and the
A new report has found the coronavirus pandemic has had a significant economic, mental and emotional impact on people, especially among those who were already vulnerable.