12 January 2023
Notifying customers when contracts change or end
We issued a letter to retailers to remind them of their obligations to provide customers with appropriate notice prior to price changes or benefit changes or the end of fixed term contracts.
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Five energy retailers have paid a combined total of almost $1 million in penalties for allegedly failing to meet legal obligations in place as part of the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.
Click Energy, Red Energy, Lumo Energy, M2 Energy and Weston Energy paid the penalties after allegedly failing to surrender the required number of Victorian energy efficiency certificates to offset their legislative liability under the program in 2021.
After seven years as Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Hamill will be leaving the Essential Services Commission. He will be finishing on 9 June.
Commission chairperson Kate Symons said Dr Hamill has led the management of the organisation with integrity and commitment to deliver regulatory outcomes across the state’s energy, water, transport and local government sectors that protect and serve Victorian consumers.
“On behalf of my fellow commissioners, we are grateful to John for his support, leadership
The Essential Services Commission has taken enforcement action against nine accredited businesses over non-compliant refrigerated cabinet activities in the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.
On 9 February 2024, PowerSync Pty Ltd (ACN 659 156 680) applied for a licence to wholesale electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000.Consultation on the licence application closed on 8 March 2024. We did not receive any submissions.We granted the licence on 9 April 2024.
Origin Energy Electricity Limited and Origin Energy (Vic) Pty Ltd (together, Origin) has paid $295,872 in penalties for 8 alleged contraventions of Victoria’s energy laws. Origin allegedly referred 6 customers affected by family violence to a debt recovery agency without considering the potential impact of debt recovery on those customers.
Origin self-reported the issues affecting Victorian customers as required under the commission’s reporting requirements.
The Essential Services Commission has shared its enduring and strategic priorities for compliance and enforcement in the Victorian Energy Upgrades program, to protect consumers and uphold program integrity.With a focus on consumer safety and wellbeing, quality, integrity and reputation, these priorities will help focus our resources on the right areas.
The Essential Services Commission has accepted a court enforceable undertaking from Jemena Electricity Networks (VIC) Ltd (Jemena) after it allegedly failed to notify 49 customers of a planned power interruption in Heidelberg Heights in April 2023. One of those customers was a registered user of life support equipment.
The Essential Services Commission has today released the March 2024 Victorian Energy Market Report (VEMR). The report covers the period from 1 October to 31 December 2023.
We review water tariffs, which help determine fixed and variable water prices.
Our water tariff schedules outline the maximum prices each water business can charge their customers for specific services, such as water delivery and sewage processing.
The schedules outline the maximum prices each water business can charge their customers for specific services, such as water delivery and sewage processing.
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Compliance and Enforcement
Our Compliance and Enforcement Policy outlines the commission's approach in monitoring and assisting compliance with the Water Industry Standards.
Compliance
In line with the policy, the commission will consider the compliance approaches which will deliver the best outcomes for Victorian water consumers. These may include assisting
The Essential Services Commission has accepted a court enforceable undertaking from South East Water Corporation (South East Water) over allegations it failed to uphold critical protections in place to support customers affected by family violence.
The Essential Services Commission has released its final decision on South East Water’s five-year pricing plan, with typical bills in 2023-24 set to increase by $23.
This means typical annual water and sewerage bills for residential owner occupier customers will increase 2.3 per cent – from $967 to $990 – from 1 July 2023.
… over two years, and eligible concession card holders can apply to their retailer for a further 17.5 per cent discount off their gas bills during winter. in addition, victorian households can take advantage of the victorian government’s $250 power saving bonus* by visiting the victorian energy compare website . the commission further supports consumers facing cost-of-living pressures by holding victoria’s energy companies accountable for complying with the state’s strong consumer
On 19 December 2018, LMS Energy Pty Ltd (ACN 059 428 474) 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).
Consultations on the application closed on 16 January 2019. We did not receive any submissions.
We granted the licence on 6 February 2019. This licence was varied on 6 July 2023.
1 August 2024From 1 August 2024, doorknocking is banned under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program. This follows the cold-call telemarketing ban that took effect on 1 May 2024.Under these bans, accredited persons and scheme participants must obtain express prior consent from consumers before telephoning or visiting them to market VEU energy efficient upgrades, products and services.The bans aim to:
On 6 June 2024, Kerang Solar Plant Pty Ltd (ACN 607 331 117) has applied for a licence to generate electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). Consultation on the licence application closed on 30 September 2024. We did not receive any submissions. We granted the licence on 1 November 2024.
More information
Media release: Greater Western Water makes court-enforceable commitment to improve family violence processes
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Greater Western Water enforceable undertaking 2024
On 10 September 2024, CleanPeak Energy Retail Pty Ltd (ACN 623 916 138) applied for a licence to sell electricity 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).Public submissions closed on 8 October 2024. We received no submissions.
The Essential Services Commission is inviting public submissions about Transmission Company Victoria Pty Ltd’s (TCV) application for an electricity transmission licence in Victoria.Essential Services Commission Chairperson Gerard Brody says the public submission process is a crucial part of Victoria’s electricity licencing process.