Overview
If you live in an embedded network, you may not be able to choose your electricity supplier but you still have rights.
The amount you can be charged for your electricity is capped. The maximum price for embedded networks is the Victorian Default Offer, which we set annually.
If you have a complaint that you are not able to resolve with your energy retailer, consider getting in touch with the Energy and Water Ombudsman on 1800 500 509. This
The Essential Services Commission today announced the final 2023-24 Victorian Default Offer, following industry and community consultation on its
3 June 2025
Home Energy Rating Assessment Activity Guide
Find out about the program requirements for creating Victorian energy efficiency certificates (VEECs) under this activity.
(pdf, 209.81 KB)
Get involvedScorecard
Jemena Electricity Networks (VIC) Ltd (Jemena) has paid $795,468 in penalties for allegedly failing to comply with obligations that protect Victorian energy customers who need life support equipment, and who are affected by planned power outages.
Read our investigation report
Refrigerated Cabinets Activity Investigation Report
(pdf, 124.94 KB)
We have taken enforcement action against nine accredited persons over non-compliant refrigerated cabinet activity in the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.
The
On 25 October 2023, Hawkesdale Asset Pty Ltd (ACN 643 793 711) applied for a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale and to sell electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000.
Submissions closed 5pm Wednesday 22 November 2023. We did not receive any submissions.
We granted the licence on 10 January 2024.
We have updated our urban and rural Water Industry Standards to strengthen our reporting framework.
These updates provide clarity to water businesses on our expectations in relation to self-reporting and strengthen the family violence protections for customers. They are part of a series of measures the commission will put in place to provide consistency in how water businesses interpret their compliance obligations and to ensure timely remediation of customer issues.
The Essential Services Commission is seeking feedback on its draft decision on the minimum feed-in tariffs that energy companies will pay Victorian solar customers from 1 July 2024.
The Essential Services Commission has today released the Best Offer Guideline, which provides guidance to energy retailers on how they share information about their ‘best energy offer’ with customers.
The Essential Services Commission and the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV) have signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding to continue their strong working relationship and shared goal of delivering better outcomes for ener
More information
29 November 2023
Archived news update from original enforcement action - regulator suspends accredited business over alleged misleading social media marketing activity
(pdf, 120.11 KB
8 December 2023We have made the following changes in response to queries from accredited persons seeking clarification on the commission’s expectations around the record-keeping requirements and VEEC assignment form requirements for water heating and space heating and cooling activities.
Victoria’s independent economic regulator has today released its Water Performance Report 2022-23. The report shows that water businesses are performing well and have maintained a strong focus on supporting their customers and community.
On 29 July 2021, Diapur Wind Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 604 213 309) 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 27 August 2021. We did not receive any submissions.
We granted the licence on 1 September 2021. This licence was varied on 4 December 2023.
18 December 2023
The commission has identified an error in a calculator built into the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) registry. The calculator is used by accredited persons (APs) to calculate and create Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) for commercial and industrial air source heat pump water heaters (activity 44).
The Essential Services Commission has commenced civil penalty proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria against energy retailers Origin Energy Electricity Limited, Origin Energy (Vic) Pty Limited and Origin Energy Retail Limited (together, Origin).
The commission’s claim alleges multiple failures by Origin to meet its obligations under the life support and payment difficulty frameworks, both of which protect consumers experiencing vulnerability.
Victorian energy consumers can expect electricity distribution companies to meet guaranteed service levels relating to how they manage unplanned power outages. These outages can occur for a number of reasons, however they are generally infrequent, and last for short periods.
Customers who experience many, or long, unplanned power outages during the year may be entitled to compensation from their energy distributor.
More information
1st Energy's banned door-to-door energy retail sales activities enforceable undertaking 2023
(pdf, 660.24 KB)
Energy Retail Code of Practice
Payment difficulty framework
The payment difficulty framework is a set of energy rules to better protect and support residential customers that are anticipating or facing payment difficulty.The framework's purpose is to:
- help residential customers avoid getting into debt with their retailer
- make it easier for residential customers to pay for their ongoing energy use, repay their debt when they have missed a bill and lower their energy costs
Supporting Victorians experiencing vulnerability to have equitable access to energy, water, transport and other critical services remains a key focus for the Essential Services Commission amid growing cost-of-living pressures for consumers.