Essential Services Commission

We promote the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services.

Featured work

$130 million redress proposed for Greater Western Water billing failures

Greater Western Water has acknowledged failures with its new billing system that caused significant billing disruptions and multiple breaches of the Water Industry Standard, and has proposed an enforceable undertaking to provide redress to affected customers.

New energy rules help customers get the best price, stay connected, and tackle loyalty tax

The Essential Services Commission is changing Victoria’s energy rules to ensure customers doing it tough get the best price and stay connected, and to tackle the energy market’s ‘loyalty tax’.

A woman standing at a kitchen sink, washing grapes under tap.

Water price review 2026

We are reviewing submissions from Melbourne Water and North East Water on their proposed prices and key service outcomes to apply from 1 July 2026.

Victorian water businesses report on their commitments to customers

The seventh annual water outcomes report shows most water businesses believe they are making good progress against their commitments to customers, despite challenges caused by varying climate conditions.

Latest News

News update

31 October 2025

Essential Services Commission publishes 2024-25 Annual Report

The Essential Services Commission’s Annual Report 2024-25 reflects on another impactful year for the commission, delivering work that will have a tangible positive impact for the Victorian community.

Media releases

30 October 2025

Business fined $23,077 for breaching Victorian Energy Upgrades program consumer protections

NRGPAL Pty Ltd has been fined $23,077 for allegedly breaching consumer protections in the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

Speeches

24 October 2025

Commissioner Jess Young's remarks to the Women's Health in the North 'Power Up Victoria Project' event

Commissioner Jess Young's spoke at the recent Women's Health in the North 'Power Up Victoria Project' event. Read her full speech.

Media releases

23 October 2025

Businesses punished over false claims, illegal doorknocking and other Victorian Energy Upgrades rule breaches

The Essential Services Commission has taken action against two businesses it alleges made false claims about work completed and breached consumer protections under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.

Media releases

22 October 2025

EnergyAustralia to provide more than $1 million in bill relief after breaching consumer protections

The Essential Services Commission has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking with EnergyAustralia that will see it provide a customer remediation package of approximately $1.2 million of credits and debt waivers, following alleged failures to inform struggling customers of their payment assistance entitlements.

News update

17 October 2025

Draft framework for new customer contributions to water infrastructure

New customer contributions establish how much a connecting party pays upfront, and what will be paid through ongoing charges by the connecting party and all other customers. As part of a review into the new customer contributions framework, we have released a draft framework paper for consultation.

Featured consultations

View all current consultations

Melbourne Water price review 2026 - consultation closes 12 December 2025

North East Water price review 2026 - consultation closes 12 December 2025

Review of New Customer Contributions - consultation on draft framework paper closes 11 November 2025