Penalty notices
We issued Momentum Energy with 60 penalty notices in October 2018. We have published one example penalty notice, and listed all 60 along with the overcharge amount for each.
7 October 2019
Momentum Energy overcharging penalty notice EIPN(E) 37-2019
We accepted an enforceable undertaking from Momentum Energy about disconnection notices that did not comply with the Energy Retail Code.
Momentum Energy's enforceable undertaking for a disconnection compliance issue
The disconnection warning notices that Momentum Energy issued in 2018 did not comply with clause 110(2)(h) of the Energy Retail Code because they did not let smart meter customers know that they could be disconnected without someone having to visit the property
7 August 2019
EnergyAustralia certificate shortfall decision 2019
(pdf, 135.55 KB)
In August 2019, EnergyAustralia paid a penalty of $8,117.50 after we issued the company with a Victorian energy efficiency certificate shortfall statement.
Under
Key audit results 2018–19
Origin Energy incorrectly calculated some of their recovery of undercharges, meaning greater amounts were recovered from customers than allowed.
The audit also covered some explicit informed consent requirements but did not find any issues.
Recommended actions
We looked into why credits were under-applied and recommended that Origin Energy stop using the billing technology used for calculating the credits so that they do not continue to overcharge
Energy businesses say short term household debt has increased following the winding back of pandemic-related government financial support, but say they’re committed to helping customers stay connected.
The state’s energy regulator is seeking feedback on its proposal to increase the Victorian Default Offer to reflect upcoming changes to national electricity network costs.
… victorian water businesses focus on resilience after a year of challenges 28 june 2021 senior leaders from 18 of the state’s water businesses met with the essential services commission as part of an ongoing series of industry and community roundtables. water businesses said while lessons were learnt in 2020, they are still being challenged in terms of frequency of extreme weather events, and population migration to the regions and urban fringe.
Penalty notices
29 June 2021
Simply Energy penalty notices 2021 (explicit informed consent)
(pdf, 1.73 MB)
Further information
Simply Energy has paid penalties totalling $2.5 million after two external door-to-door sales agents allegedly used phoney accents and fake names to switch hundreds of customers to new energy contracts without their consent.
The Essential Services Commission issued 125 penalty notices to Simply Energy after the agents allegedly impersonated customers consenting to the switch in phone calls to the company.
Cold room activity information can be viewed here
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16 August 2021
Cold room activity program update
(pdf, 135.96 KB
17 August 2021
Updates to product application guide for solar or heat pump water heaters
We have released an updated Water heating and space heating/cooling product application guide to clarify and update the following requirements:
Clarification/update
Our review of payment difficulty framework focuses on evaluating the implementation of the framework in meeting its objectives, relying on direct customer experiences, and data and information relating to the implementation of the framework. We have released our findings from the review. We found that the payment difficulty framework helps Victorian energy consumers manage their energy costs but that retailers can do more.
What is the payment difficulty framework?
Victoria’s energy regulator is reviewing the effectiveness of the safety net designed to help anyone struggling to pay their energy bills to see how well it’s working to protect customers.
Accredited persons sought guidance on wood-fired room heater decommissioning, and the meaning of ‘permanently inoperable’ in this context.
The safety of professionals during the activity, and of residents and consumers after the activity, is our main concern. We sought feedback on:
- the appropriate level of assurance to demonstrate compliance with our regulations and safety considerations, and
- what other decommissioning methods might allow wood-fired room
28 October 2021
Changes to in-home display (activity 30) requirements
We have made the following changes to our requirements in response to some identified issues and feedback from accredited persons regarding the in-home display activity (activity 30) activity to gain assurance that IHD units are being installed correctly at consumers’ premises:
We have completed our annual review of the minimum feed-in tariffs that your energy company pays you for power you export to the grid via sources including solar panels.
From 1 July 2022, retailers will continue to be able to offer solar system owners a single rate feed-in tariff, a time-varying feed-in tariff or both.
Our final decision
Retailers can offer solar customers the minimum flat feed-in tariff and/or the time-varying feed-in tariffs for electricity exported
Falling wholesale electricity prices are behind the state’s energy regulator cutting the default electricity offer by about five per cent.
Victorian households on the default electricity offer will see their annual bills dropping by an average $70 per year from 1 January 2022 while small business customers will save an average $336 a year.
Essential Services Commission pricing director Marcus Crudden says the decision will provide bill relief to around 200,000 households and 50,000 small businesses.
… price reviews, climate change, compliance and bill affordability key topics at water sector roundtable 01 december 2021 nineteen representatives from 17 of victoria's water businesses came together this week to discuss how the sector and customers are fairing at the end of another challenging year, as well as price reviews in the coming year. discussions started with the upcoming 2023 water price review , including the application of premo , and how
Victoria’s energy regulator says while falling wholesale electricity prices are pushing down the minimum feed-in tariff, the real value to solar customers is not having to pay retail for the electricity they use.
Following advice from the Essential Services Commission, the Minister for Local Government, Shaun Leane has announced council rates will be capped at 1.75 per cent for the 2022–23 financial year.
Victorian councils now have until 31 March 2022 to apply for an increase above the 1.75 per cent cap.