Proposed changes to Victoria’s energy rules to better protect consumers and minimise unnecessary costs

The Essential Services Commission is seeking feedback on proposed changes to Victoria’s energy rules. These changes are intended to remove unnecessary requirements and better protect consumers by clarifying existing rules. The changes would also align Victoria’s rules more closely with national rules.

The proposed changes:

• give customers more certainty about the protections that would apply if new arrangements allow electricity use from electric vehicles, batteries and solar to be separately metered under a different contract
• help gas customers make informed decisions about disconnecting or abolishing their gas service by requiring retailers to provide clearer information
• strengthen complaint handling and dispute resolution by clarifying that retailers must follow their publicly available complaint handling and dispute resolution procedures
• simplify electricity bills by removing the need for retailers to include start and end meter readings for customers with smart meters, and clarifying that information about the retailer’s best energy offer is not required in final bills
• clarify existing rules to reduce unexpected bill increases by confirming that discounts, rebates and credits offered with no end date must be honoured for the length of a customer’s contract
• remove requirements that duplicate existing rules requiring retailers to provide greenhouse gas disclosure or bill benchmarking information on customer bills.

The proposed changes were informed by feedback from consumers, businesses and other stakeholders about how energy rules could deliver meaningful benefits while making Victoria’s energy rules simpler. This feedback will also help shape the next set of draft reforms, which will be released for feedback in 2027.

These changes will build on reforms introduced by the commission last year to help customers get the best price, stay connected, and tackle the energy market’s loyalty tax.

Midday Power Saver Offer

The commission is also seeking feedback on proposed changes to Victoria’s energy rules to support the introduction of the Midday Power Saver Offer.

The changes would clarify the protections available to customers who opt in to the offer, including requirements for retailers to provide clear information about how the offer works, its potential costs, and cooling-off periods.

Have your say and next steps

Feedback on the changes to energy rules can be provided through Engage Victoria by 5pm on 23 October 2026.

The commission expects to publish the final rules in December 2026, with the changes proposed to take effect from 1 March 2027.

The commission will call on Victorians to have their say on the next set of proposed changes in 2027. These reforms will be informed by feedback received through the commission’s work to improve outcomes for First Nations energy customers and strengthen existing family violence protections.

Quotes attributable to Essential Services Commission Chairperson and Commissioner Gerard Brody

“Good regulation should be simple and effective – ensuring strong protections for consumers without creating unnecessary complexity for businesses to comply.”

“Over the years, we’ve removed outdated requirements, streamlined processes and brought Victorian rules closer to national approaches where it makes sense. We’re applying that same focus by looking at where rules can be simplified and clarified.”

“Victoria has some of the strongest protections for energy customers in the nation, and we want to keep them strong as the energy market changes. From industry to consumers, I encourage anyone to have their say on the proposed changes to help us shape the final changes.”