ESC Review of the Payment Difficulty Framework
In January 2019, the payment difficulty framework commenced in Victoria to ensure that disconnection for non-payment is a last resort and that vulnerable customers are
Opportunity to shape energy bills of the future
On 2 September 2021, the AER has made a call for submissions on issues that will inform the AER Bill Contents and Billing Requirements Guideline (Guideline). Submissions are due by Wednesday, 22 September 2021.
The purpose of the Guideline is to provide retailers with guidance on preparing and issuing bills to make it easier for residential and small customers to understand billing information. The Guideline is a further step in the AER Strategic Plan 2020-2025 to improve consumer outcomes.
An Embedded Network (Guideline) Refresher
If you own, operate or control a private embedded network, you will need to ensure that you hold the exemptions you require. In all of
Automated compliance under the microscope? AER initiates proceedings against Origin in the Federal Court.
This week the AER announced that it had initiated proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia. The AER alleges systemic failures in the automated processes
Minutes of Energy Ministers’ Meetings could become publicly available following a recent decision on the status of National Cabinet
A recent decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) will be welcomed by those in the energy industry seeking clarity on the nation’s changeable climate
The use of Machine Learning in Compliance
The regulatory environment is evolving at a lightning pace. As a result, compliance officers must also keep up. To meet this challenge, AI applications have
New Round of Enforcement Actions
Energy sellers should review the announcements made by the ESC and ensure that they have adequate controls in place to avoid the same issues.
Submission to the AER’s Network and Retail Exemption Guidelines Review
We’ve submitted that the AER should consider implementing a ‘fast track approval’ process for the approval of proposed retrofit conversions of sites where the resulting embedded network would clearly bring consumers better pricing and where the configuration of the network infrastructure facilitates consumers who wish to ‘opt-out.’
As energy sellers know, the regulatory framework is partly designed to set the minimum standards of conduct expected and to punish those that are non-compliant. We believe that it is time that incentives were built into the regulatory framework. Where energy sellers develop products or services that have a clear consumer benefit, they should be rewarded by, for example, faster approvals. Faster approvals result in better commercial outcomes for energy sellers and those should be tied to consumer benefits.
Update on Victoria’s proposal to ‘ban’ embedded networks
In January we reported on updates to the Victorian Government’s proposal to ‘ban’ embedded networks within residential developments. The Expert Panel that was established by