
2022-2023 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities of the AER
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has published its 2022-2023 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities. The AER will continue to focus its compliance and enforcement activities on how retailers assist customers who are facing financial difficulties and those who are within embedded networks. Customers who are facing financial difficulties The AER's focus on vulnerable consumers is understandable with market conditions expected to result in higher energy costs for consumers who are already facing higher costs of living. The AER notes that: We continue to closely monitor data on consumers facing financial difficulties, including debt levels, the number of consumers on payment plans and hardship programs, and the successful completion of those plans and programs. We remain concerned by the average debt per customer upon entry into hardship programs, and the number of…