AusNet Transmission Group Pty Ltd (ABN 78 079 798 173) has applied to vary its electricity transmission licence under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). AusNet Transmission Group Pty Ltd is seeking a variation to its licence to allow for the connection of the Bulgana wind farm.

The commission may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason it considers appropriate having regard to the commission’s objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic).

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Submissions in response to this application closed on 8 March 2019. 

Moorabool Wind Farm Interface Company Pty Ltd (ACN 615 752 317) has applied for a licence to sell electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). The applicant proposes to act as intermediary and sell the electricity generated at the Moorabool north wind farm and the Moorabool south wind farm through the wholesale market.

The commission may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason it considers appropriate having regard to the commission’s objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic). 

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Submissions in response to this application closed on 1 March 2019. 

Moorabool South Wind Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 136 355 863) has applied for a licence to generate electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). The applicant proposes to generate electricity at the Moorabool south wind farm, approximately 67km west of Melbourne.

The commission may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason it considers appropriate having regard to the commission’s objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic). 

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Submissions in response to this application closed on 1 March 2019. 

Moorabool Wind Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 135 829 846) has applied for a licence to generate electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). The applicant proposes to generate electricity at the Moorabool north wind farm, approximately 67km west of Melbourne.

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

On 17 April 2019 we granted Moorabool Wind Farm a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale.

Lal Lal Wind Farm (ACN 625 768 774) has applied for a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale and to sell electricity by wholesale under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). The applicant proposes to generate electricity using 60 wind turbines (total capacity 220MW) at Elaine and Yendon sites located respectively 25km and 17km south-east of Ballarat, Victoria.

The commission may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason it considers appropriate having regard to the commission’s objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic). 

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Submissions in response to this application closed on 19 February 2019. 

Agora Retail Pty Ltd (ACN 612 806 381) applied for a licence to sell gas in Victoria under section 25 of the Gas Industry Act 2001 (Vic) (GIA).

We may grant or refuse to grant applications for any reason we consider appropriate having regard to the commission's objectives under the GIA and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic). 

We granted the licence on 8 March 2019.

Bulgana Wind Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 162 201 569) has applied for a licence to generate electricity for supply or sale and to sell electricity by wholesale under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). The applicant proposes to generate electricity at the Bulgana Green Power Hub located approximately 200km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria.

The commission may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason it considers appropriate having regard to the commission’s objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic). 

Submit your feedback 

Submissions in response to this application closed on 8 February 2019. 

Numurkah Solar Farm Pty Ltd (ACN 618 524 422) has applied for a licence to generate electricity under section 18 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic). The applicant proposes to generate electricity (total capacity of 128MW) at a site located approximately 220km north of Melbourne, Victoria.

The commission may grant or refuse to grant the application for any reason it considers appropriate having regard to the commission’s objectives under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic) and the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic). 

Submit your feedback 

Submissions in response to this application closed on 8 February 2019. 

Streamlining compliance and enforcement

We have released our final decision on the revised energy compliance and enforcement policy. Having been introduced in 2016, we considered it timely to review the policy and determine whether it was effectively and efficiently delivering outcomes for consumers.

The revised policy moves away from prescribing, in detail, our compliance and enforcement pathway. Instead, it sets out our broad approach to compliance and enforcement, including identifying the tools we will use to promote self-compliance with our energy regulatory framework. We consider this approach will support flexibility in promoting industry compliance as well as foster timely outcomes.

New rules to ensure contract periods, practices and variations are clear and fair

In response to recommendation 4 from the independent bipartisan review of electricity and gas retail markets we implemented a suite of reforms to ensure that contract periods, practices (including discounting) and variations are clear and fair.

The final decision for these reforms was released in February 2020, following an issues paper in June 2019 and a draft decision in December 2019.

These reforms took effect from 1 July 2020.

Price certainty

Retailers are only allowed to increase prices once a year.

For many customers, this will happen on a set date one month after network tariff prices change. Customers on fixed-price contracts will only experience any price increases on the anniversary of their initial fixed-price period expiring.

Retailers must clearly communicate the time at which prices may change with their customers.

Clearer and simpler contract and discounting practices

Any customer signing up to a new offer with a discount, credit or rebate will receive that benefit for the entire duration of their contract.

Retailers must advertise electricity offers with reference to the Victorian Default Offer, to help customers compare like with like.

Safeguard protections

Pay-on-time discounts are capped at a level set by the commission, so customers who miss a bill payment will not face a large increase in costs.

Retailers must honour pay-on-time discounts for customers receiving tailored assistance who miss a bill payment.

Retailers must roll customers on fixed-term electricity contracts who do not choose another offer at the end of the contract onto the Victorian Default Offer.

Information about the Victorian Default Offer on bills

Retailers must include specified information about the Victorian Default Offer on the front page of every electricity bill. This tells customers about the offer and how to access it.