On 14 April 2025, Equis Energy (Australia) Projects (MREH A3 AssetCo) Pty Ltd (ACN 669 645 514) as trustee for Equis Energy (Australia) MREH A3 Asset Trust (ABN 47 920 042 214) applied for a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).

We may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason we consider appropriate having regard to our objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic).

How we assess licence applications

We will not grant a licence unless we are satisfied that:

• the applicant has the technical capacity to comply with the conditions of the licence, meaning it has the capacity to operate and manage the business, comply with licence conditions and comply with relevant regulatory obligations.
• the applicant is financially viable (where applicable)
• the applicant is a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence in Victoria.

You can refer to our Guideline: Applications for electricity and gas industry licences for more information.

The guideline includes information to assist people to understand our licensing process.

Have your say

We are seeking feedback from stakeholders on Equis Energy (Australia) Projects (MREH A3 AssetCo) Pty Ltd (ACN 669 645 514) as trustee for Equis Energy (Australia) MREH A3 Asset Trust (ABN 47 920 042 214)’s electricity generation licence application.

You can respond by providing a submission or comments via email or mail.

• Email: licences@esc.vic.gov.au
• Mail: Essential Services Commission, Level 8, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000

Submissions close 5pm, 12 May 2025.

On 7 April 2025, Active Utilities Retail Pty Ltd (ACN 606 139 931) applied for a licence to sell electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic).

We may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason we consider appropriate having regard to our objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic).

How we assess licence applications

We will not grant a licence unless we are satisfied that:

• the applicant has the technical capacity to comply with the conditions of the licence, meaning it has the capacity to operate and manage the business, comply with licence conditions and comply with relevant regulatory obligations.
• the applicant is financially viable. 
• the applicant is a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence in Victoria.

You can refer to our Guideline: Applications for electricity and gas industry licences for more information.

The guideline includes information to assist people to understand our licensing process.

Have your say

We are seeking feedback from stakeholders on Active Utilities Retail Pty Ltd (ACN 606 139 931)’s electricity retail licence application.

You may provide your feedback by:

• providing comments in the survey found on Engage Victoria; or
• providing a submission document/s

Submissions can be sent to us via the below contact details:

• Email: licences@esc.vic.gov.au
• Mail: Essential Services Commission, Level 8, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000

You can also call us on 03 9032 1300 to discuss your options.

If English is not your first language, please contact TIS National on 131 450 to make your submission using an interpreter.

Submissions close 5pm, 5 May 2025.

Licence granted

Lumea was granted an electricity transmission licence in respect of its Kiamal transmission assets on 4 December 2019.

Licence varied

This licence was last varied on 25 September 2024.

Licence revoked

This licence was revoked on 25 March 2025.

Pursuant to section 29(1)(b) of the EI Act, the commission has varied the electricity transmission licence issued to Lumea on 1 July 2020 in relation to the transmission assets associated with the Berrybank Wind Farm and the Berrybank Terminal Station (Berrybank Transmission Assets), to include the Kiamal Transmission Assets.

Golden Plains WF2 Pty Ltd (ACN 650 490 109) as trustee for Golden Plains WF2 Unit Trust (ABN 19 955 437 506) ("GPWF2") has applied for a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale under section 18(1) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000.

We may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason we consider appropriate having regard to our objectives under the Electricity Act 2000 and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001.

Have your say

We are seeking feedback from stakeholders on GPWF2's electricity generation licence application.

You can respond by uploading a submission or provide comments via email or mail.

• Email: licences@esc.vic.gov.au
• Mail: Essential Services Commission, Level 8, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000

Submissions close 5pm 23 April 2025.

Does the GEN GEO 2025 exempt persons who sell gas from holding a licence?

No. It only exempts persons who  provide services by means of a distribution pipeline to customers within an embedded network. 

A person who sells gas to retail customers (whether within an embedded gas network or otherwise) must hold a licence issued by the commission.

Will the GEN GEO 2025 only apply to existing gas supply embedded networks in operation on or before 25 February 2025?

Yes. The GEN GEO 2025 only applies to existing gas supply embedded networks which were in operation on or before 25 February 2025.

Exempt distributors obligations under the GEN GEO 2025

The GEN GEO 2025 includes requirements that certain information be provided to customers within the gas embedded networks, and to the commission.

Clauses 10 and 11 of the GEN GEO 2025 require exempt distributors to provide a report, in the form and manner required by the commission, on or before 30 June each year in respect of its distribution activities for the preceding calendar year (i.e. January to December).

The first report is due on or before 30 June 2026 for the period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

The first report can therefore be submitted on or after 1 January 2026.

Instructions on making a report

Clauses 10(2) and 11(2) require that the reports provided to the commission be in the form and manner we require.

The commission will provide a reporting template to facilitate submissions that must be provided by email to the address on the template.  You will be able to list more than one site in any report provided.

Got a question?

If you have queries about the GEN GEO 2025, email us at exemptionregister@esc.vic.gov.au