Media release: End energy retailers’ free ride
New proposal to fix energy prices for length of contract Energy retailers would be banned from increasing a customer’s tariff mid contract under a proposal to be considered by the Australian Energy M...
Move to emissions trading scheme could wipe $185 off annual power bills—but regulators must play a role
As delegates converge on Brisbane for the annual regulators conference, Consumer Action Law Centre has urged national and state energy regulators to ensure any move to an emission trading scheme resul...
Media release: Energy retailers improve their behaviour, but Simply Energy & Red Energy didn’t get the memo
335 complaints about door-to-door salespeople have now been lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission through donotknock.consumeraction.org.au And while the latest round of compla...
Submission: Proposed Changes to Regulatory Instruments Relating to Flexible Pricing of Electricity
Consumer Action has provided comment on the Essential Services Commission’s Draft Decision in relation to Proposed Changes to Regulatory Instruments Relating to Flexible Pricing of Electricity. Energy...
Media Release: $1.5 million fine for AGL as the costs of door-to-door marketing misconduct start to add up for energy retailers
The Consumer Action Law Centre, the organisation behind the successful Do Not Knock sticker and campaign, has welcomed a Federal Court decision that AGL Sales Pty Ltd and AGL South Australia Pty Ltd p...
Media release: Simple online ‘No Contact Form’ the latest tool to stop door-to-door energy sales
There is a new weapon in the fight against pesky and persistent door-to-door energy salespeople. Australians can now visit www.donotknock.org.au, fill out a simple form, and have their ‘Do Not Knock’...
Media Release: AGL is second energy retailer in as many days to agree to blanket cessation of door-to-door sales – Consumer Action calls on others to follow their lead
Householders should soon notice a meaningful decrease in visits from unwanted energy hawkers, with the announcement by a second major energy retailer, AGL, that it too will cease all door-to-door sell...
Submission: Essential Services Commission Victoria Harmonised Energy Retail Code
The signatories to this submission represent the interests of the majority of Victorian residential and small business energy consumers – being particularly cognizant of the special needs of low incom...
Submission: Limited merits review of decision-making in the electricity and gas regulatory frameworks
Consumer Action's submission to the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement on the framework for limited merits review of decision-making in electricity and gas regulation argues that Option 3, Amend...
Media release: Review of energy retailers’ customer service is damning
The Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) annual review of Energy retailers’ customer service performance is damning of the industry’s ability to assist struggling households. The Consumer Action Law...
Submission: Electricity network regulatory frameworks—Productivity Commission draft report
Consumer Action has responded to the Productivity Commission's Draft Report on Electricity Network Regulatory Frameworks. We have found the Commission‘s review of the Electricity Network Regulatory F...
Media release: Consumer Group hits out at Energy Retail Code
The Energy Retail Code, which allows energy retailers to increase the price of electricity multiple times during the term of a contract, has come under fire from the Consumer Action Law Centre. In a l...
Policy report: A Policy Trilemma: creating an affordable, secure and sustainable energy market
A new report from the Consumer Action Law Centre, A Policy Trilemma: creating an affordable, secure and sustainable energy market, authored by former UK EnergyWatch CEO and former Commonwealth Ombudsm...
Media release: Energy White Paper a significant improvement on draft
Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the Federal Government's Energy White Paper, which it believes is a significant improvement from the draft. The Centre said that it was pleasing that the White...
Media release: Energy debate must address the real drivers of the unnecessary electricity price increases
The Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed comments made by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman Rod Sims warning that the energy reform debate must address the real drivers...
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:...
On the Wire: edition 33
Consumer action has published the October edition of On the Wire, a quarterly publication featuring updates on national energy market reforms and regulatory processes. Edition 33 can be found here....
Submission: Economic Regulation of Network Service Providers—Draft Determination
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft Determination of the Australian Energy Market Commission in relation to the Economic Regulation of Network Service Providers R...
Electricity and gas debt
Use this information sheet if: you are having trouble paying your electricity or gas bill; or you want information about payment arrangements and your rights. You do have rights under the E...
Media release: Do Not Knock campaign lodges 100 door-to-door selling complaints with ACCC
Over 100 complaints about door-to-door salespeople have now been lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) since the national Do Not Knock campaign was launched in November...
Media release: Australians fed up with door-to-door sales urged to sign new petition
The Consumer Action Law Centre, tired of hearing stories of salespeople taking advantage of the vulnerable Australians, has launched a petition calling on Australia’s energy retailers to voluntarily e...
Working for a fairer energy market
Energy market reform Our work brings the consumer voice to the national energy market. Our advocacy draws on real consumer concerns —expressed through our casework services (legal and financial counse...
Media release: Consumer action calls on Energy Market Commission to ease energy bills by proceeding with rule-change
In a submission lodged today, the Consumer Action Law Centre called for the Australian Energy Market Commission to proceed with an energy rule change that would put downward pressure on household ener...
Media release: Contracting competition in the energy retail market results in lacklustre performance
A new report showing three leading energy retailers control almost 75 per cent of market share is bad news for Victorian households which are missing out on the financial benefits and service improvem...
Media release: Energy rules must change—consumers and big business agree
Consumer groups from around Australia have joined the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and some of the nation’s biggest businesses in calling for reform to the process that sets electricity network p...
Media release: Unfair process leading to higher electricity prices
Two prominent consumer advocacy groups are calling for the federal government to abolish the current process of appeal for electricity distribution pricing determinations. A new report released by the...
Submission to Productivity Commission Inquiry on Network Regulation
Consumer Action welcomes the Productivity Commission’s investigation into benchmarking as a means of achieving more efficient delivery of network services and electricity infrastructure. Benchmarking...
Policy report: Coercion and harassment at the door Consumer experiences with energy direct marketers
Since the introduction of full retail contestability in the Victorian energy market, Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Financial & Consumer Rights Council (FCRC) have received n...