WORKING out how much Victorian households would pay on a particular energy deal would be easier under new rules being considered by the state’s energy regulator following a government review.
Proposed changes are designed to make it easier for households to shop around for a better energy deal under the latest changes arising from the 2017 Victorian Government review of the retail energy market.
The Essential Services Commission will seek feedback on plans to make retailers give a fact sheet to customers looking for a new deal, so they can work out if the deal is right for them.
The commission’s director of energy Sarah McDowell said the proposed fact sheet would replace two existing pieces of information.
She said it would also help Victorian energy customers compare energy plans.
“They will be able to see how their household compares so they can make the right decision about the best energy deal for them,” she said.
The proposed rule changes would also make it easier to avoid bill shock by mandating when customers can have bills adjusted based on a self-meter read, in line with recent changes to the national framework.
In October 2018, the commission finalised new rules requiring energy retailers to tell customers whether they are on the retailer’s best plan for them and how to switch if they were not.
Those reforms will take effect from mid-2019.
Interested stakeholders can send submissions on the latest proposed changes to RetailEnergyReview@esc.vic.gov.au by February 5.
