Photo: RetailDetail EU

The changes are the result of the independent review of the Victorian retail energy market commissioned by the Andrews Labor Government to drive down energy prices for Victorian households and businesses.

The Review found customers were paying too much for energy and recommended a range of measures to put downward pressure on prices, including overhauling energy retailer marketing practices to put customers back in charge.

The Labor Government has asked Essential Services Commission (ESC) to monitor and regularly report on the competitiveness of Victoria’s energy retail market and to implement several review recommendations.

The proposed changes will require retailers to:

• offer a ‘best offer’ to each customer at least twice a year
• provide advanced notice of any changes to prices, discounts or benefits
• honour a new customer entitlement to provide customers with clear advice that helps them find the best contract for them.

This draft decision by the ESC will make retailers are more transparent in their marketing practices and builds on the Labor Government’s Power Saving Bonus which has encouraged hundreds of thousands of Victorians to compare their energy deal and find a better offer.

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will invest $1.3 billion to put solar panels or solar hot water systems on more than 700,000 homes over the next 10 years.

Stakeholder consultation on the new marketing requirements will now take place, with a final decision by the end of October. The proposed changes will take effect by 1 July next year.

The Government is currently considering its final response to the independent review into the Victorian retail energy market.