Utilities

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“Four years on from the launch of the payment difficulty framework in Victoria, we’re still seeing some really worrying gaps in the assistance energy retailers are providing to people who are struggling with their energy bills,” said Luke Lovell, Acting Director of Policy and Campaigns, Consumer Action. 

Read More More Support Needed to Help Victorian Households Manage Power Bills

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Consumer groups and the financial counselling sector have welcomed the launch of a new customer code for the energy sector.

The Knock to Stay Connected customer code requires network companies to visit people at risk of disconnection and encourages them to outline the support and referral services available if the customer is having payment difficulties, with the aim of keeping them connected.

Read More Knock to Stay Connected: National Customer Code Welcomed by Consumer Groups

The Queensland Consumers Association has made a submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Cost of Living which is inquiring into: the cost of living pressures facing Australians; the Government’s fiscal policy response to the cost of living; ways to ease cost of living pressures through the tax and transfer system;  measures to ease…

Read More Queensland Consumers Association Makes Submission to Senate Cost of Living Inquiry

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Consumers International has recently released a white paper on ‘Consumer protection and empowerment for a clean energy future’ centred on the “twin challenge” of switching to sustainable and affordable alternatives in an increasingly shorter timeframe while ensuring consumers are represented and helped through and with the process. The report focuses on how “consumer protection and…

Read More Consumers International Whitepaper – ‘Consumer protection and empowerment for a clean energy future’

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Launched today, the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) program seeks to raise consumer protection standards in Australia for purchases of new energy tech, including rooftop solar, battery storage, EV chargers, home energy management systems and more. Australia is a world leader in small-scale renewable energy generation, with over 3 million rooftop solar systems providing…

Read More The New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) is here to raise consumer protection standards

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Australian households and small businesses now have access to a free online solar PV savings calculator, backed by a $946,399 investment from the Australian Government and tailored to individual property needs. Led by the University of New South Wales and the Australian PV Institute and designed by engineers, the SunSPOT tool has been upgraded to…

Read More Free solar advice for Australian households and businesses

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Energy Consumers Australia has welcomed the energy bill relief measures agreed to at today’s National Cabinet meeting, saying they would help to curtail further price increases while shielding consumers from the immediate impact of high energy bills. CEO Lynne Gallagher said the package of measures would protect households and small businesses from excessive bill shock…

Read More National commitment to energy bill relief welcome news for consumers

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At least 1 in 5 eligible low-income households in the National Energy Market are not receiving their energy concession, a new report from the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) has found. CPRC, CEO, Erin Turner, released the report today and called on state and federal governments to review the concessions system to ensure it works…

Read More Energy concessions failing to reach low-income Australians

Energy Consumers Australia said the expected rises in electricity and gas prices over the next two years contained in today’s Budget, means there must be a critical national conversation on how governments will help people control their energy use and bring bills down. CEO Lynne Gallagher said the strategy needs to make sure there is…

Read More Putting people in control of energy use is our most urgent national energy priority