Supplementary Submission: Senate Select Inquiry on Electricity Pricing
Consumer Action has written to the Senate Select Committee on Electricity Prices in response to the written questions it provided on 5 October 2012.
The committee has asked the following questions:
- The organisation One Big Switch (OBS) argues in its submission that a lack of transparency around plans and pricing for consumers is impeding the benefits of competition and they are arguing retailers should be forced to supply more information to customers including immediately informing the market of price rises and publicly releasing price rises for all plans and customers. Do regulations currently prohibit retailers supplying this information to customers and what is your organisations view of OBS’s submission?
- OBS also argues for easy to understand dash board information to be supplied to consumers to make it easier for them to understand their contracts and bills. What information should be included on such a dashboard for consumers?
We agree that there is lack of transparency around plans and pricing that impedes the benefits of competition flowing to consumers. We also agree that existing regulations do not require retailers to inform consumers about changes to tariffs prior to those changes having effect, to the detriment of consumers.
To read our full submission, click here: Supplementary submission – written questions on notice.
