Trustworthiness of AI in Public Service Delivery: Key Insights from the Australian Government Report

Trustworthiness of AI in Public Service Delivery: Key Insights from the Australian Government Report

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The Australian Government's Long-term Insights Briefings recently published a report titled "How might artificial intelligence affect the trustworthiness of public service delivery?". The report examines the potential impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on public service delivery and its implications for trust. This article provides a summary of the report and discusses its implications. Summary of the Report The report, the first in a series of public service-led Long-term Insights Briefings, underlines the significant opportunities offered by AI for enhancing public service delivery. It emphasizes the need for a framework for trustworthy use of AI in public service delivery. The report also advocates the importance of stewarding the community through the transformations that AI brings to public service. Highlighted in the report are four key insights: AI must be designed and…
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The Essential Services Commission’s review into how Victorian energy retailers are implementing the payment difficulty framework

The Essential Services Commission’s review into how Victorian energy retailers are implementing the payment difficulty framework

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On 31 May 2022, the ESC published its findings of a review into how Victorian energy retailers are implementing the payment difficulty framework. The payment difficulty framework requires retailers to assist Victorians struggling to pay their energy bills. This includes helping consumers stay on top of bills by adjusting payment amounts and frequency, offering payment plans to manage missed bills or ongoing energy usage and providing advice on how to manage energy usage or apply for utility relief grants and concessions.  The review noted some positive findings. Since the framework came into effect in 2019, more customers have received tailored assistance compared to past retailer hardship programs. More customers are receiving more appropriate assistance, and there have been fewer disconnections for non-payment. But of those customers that were disconnected, over…
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Victorian Embedded Network ‘ban’: proposed changes to the embedded network regulatory framework in Victoria

Victorian Embedded Network ‘ban’: proposed changes to the embedded network regulatory framework in Victoria

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On 11 January 2022, the expert panel appointed by the Victorian Government to review the policy position of banning embedded networks in residential apartment buildings published its final report. The recommendations, if implemented, will have a significant impact on embedded network operators in Victoria. The report sets out the panel’s recommendations for implementing a ban and further considers how the ban should apply to, or rather what changes should be made to the regulation of, legacy (existing) embedded networks. Consultation process This final report follows extensive consultation. In January 2021, the expert panel published an issues paper and, in response, received 133 submissions. The panel then held two online sessions. The expert panel published a draft recommendations report in June 2021 outlining proposed recommendations to implement the ban. The expert…
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AER’s Annual compliance and enforcement report 2020-21

AER’s Annual compliance and enforcement report 2020-21

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A report published by the AER highlights the range of enforcement activities undertaken during 2020-21 and serves as a clear warning to energy retailers of the importance of ensuring compliance with the Rules and Laws. Source: AER's Annual compliance and enforcement report 2020-21 The AER has highlighted actions relating to failures by energy retailers in areas including wrongful disconnection, failure to provide life support protections to vulnerable customers, and failure to meet timeframes for installing and repairing meters used to calculate customers’ energy bills. Highlights from the report include energy businesses paying a total of $3.8 Million in civil penalties as part of resolutions to litigation commenced by the AER and a further $960,000 being paid in infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Laws. Source: AER's Annual compliance and…
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Is Victoria really banning Embedded Networks, or just Re-naming them?

Is Victoria really banning Embedded Networks, or just Re-naming them?

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In a recent article, we summarised the findings of the Expert Panel in the Victorian Embedded Networks Review Draft Recommendations Report (Report). The implementation of the Panel’s recommendations would see the end of ‘embedded networks’ by 2023. However, subject to certain conditions, ‘private networks’ will remain. Below, we highlight the key components of the Report for embedded network operators in Victoria. It is clear from the Report that embedded networks will not be ‘banned’, rather they will be re-named ‘private networks’ and subject to stricter regulation. Residential vs Commercial The Panel’s recommendations would apply to residential embedded networks only. The likely reason for this is that the election promise on which this review was based, referred only to embedded networks in residential apartment buildings. In respect of commercial or industrial…
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Energy Legislation Amendment (Energy Fairness) Bill 2021 – The Breakdown

Energy Legislation Amendment (Energy Fairness) Bill 2021 – The Breakdown

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#Victoria, #Exemptsellers The Energy Fairness Bill tabled in the Victorian Parliament in late May 2021 has been in development for almost three years. If passed, we will see the most significant changes to the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) (Act) since the introduction of Division 5A of Part 2 (small scale solar generation).  Below, we provide a breakdown of the key elements of the bill for energy retailers operating in Victoria - hint: these regulations will not align Victoria more closely with the National Energy Customer Framework (NECF). We also highlight some key areas of concern with respect to the legislative drafting which should be explored and addressed prior to implementation.   Imprisonment Despite what some have been led to believe, we are confident that no employee of a retailer will…
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Essential Services Commission consultation paper on variation to the 2021 default offer

Essential Services Commission consultation paper on variation to the 2021 default offer

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#Victorian #Embedded #Retailers On 14 May 2021, the Essential Services Commission of Victoria announced that it had kicked off its next review into the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) and that it was seeking feedback from consumers and the energy industry before issuing a decision later in the year. The Essential Services Commission has released its consultation paper on variation to the 2021 default offer. The Essential Services Commission notes that the variation is required to account for changes to network tariffs applying from 1 July 2021. The consultation paper itself notes that the VDO was introduced by the Victorian government to regulate standing offer prices for electricity in Victoria commencing on 1 July 2019. Standing offers are contracts that electricity retailers are obliged to make available to domestic and small…
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AER Approves Network Tariffs

AER Approves Network Tariffs

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#ExemptSuppliers, #AuthorisedRetailers On 14 May 2021, the Australian Energy Regulator announced that it had approved distribution tariffs for distributors in various states including New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland. Electricity bills are made up of a number of components which include wholesale cost, retail margin, and network charges. The majority of a residential retail bill is made up of network charges and so, the AER's determination will have a material impact on the price paid by consumers for electricity. Queensland In the case of Queensland, the AER approved the 2021 to 2022 electricity distribution tariffs proposed by Energex and Ergon Energy in accordance with their relevant 2020 to 2025 distribution determinations. The determinations set revenues that those distributors can recover to reflect their cost of delivering electricity supply to…
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AGL’s Customer Hardship Audit

AGL’s Customer Hardship Audit

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On 7 May 2021 the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) released the results of the latest compliance audit under the National Energy Retail Law. AGL Energy Ltd carried out an audit to assess compliance with its hardship, payment plan and disconnection obligations for the period 1 January 2020 to 30 April 2020. With the exception of one instance of non- compliance, the audit found that AGL complied in all material respects with its hardship, payment plans, and disconnection obligations. AGL rectified the issue giving rise to the partial compliance by updating its retail systems. Hardship Obligations Part Two of the National Energy Retail Law and Parts Three and Six of the National Energy Retail Rules set out obligations that retailers have in relation to payment plans, hardship policies, debt recovery, and…
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The proposal to ban embedded networks in Victoria

The proposal to ban embedded networks in Victoria

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In October 2018, the Victorian Government announced an election commitment to ban embedded networks in new residential developments in Victoria. Since that time little has been publicly said about the proposed ban and, presumably, industry has lobbied the relevant ministers to highlight benefits of embedded networks and the impact of a ban on consumers and the industry. The election commitment was not forgotten however and the Victorian Government appointed an Expert Panel whose work consists of reviewing the options available as a policy response and advising the Government accordingly. The Victorian Government has also since opened up a consultation on the election promise - which they now say included appropriate 'exemptions for buildings that use renewable energy microgrids to deliver low-cost renewable energy to apartment buildings.' The consultation includes an…
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