Energy Efficiency - Consumer Action Law Centre

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Victorian Default Offer 2025-26 Request for comment

The cost-of-living crisis has deepened the urgency of ensuring an affordable energy price for Victorians. On Consumer Action’s frontlines, we hear from Victorians every day who are struggling to meet...

<img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Other/Other_Suburb-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Minimum Standards for Rental Properties and Rooming Houses

Consumer Action Law Centre, with Financial Counselling Victoria, the Federation of Community Legal Centres (FCLC), Anika Legal, Westjustice and Community Information & Support Victoria (CISVic),...

Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Wind2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Wind2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy" />

Network Outage Review

Consumer Action Law Centre is delighted to make a submission to the Network Outage Review. We were contacted by a small number of consumers impacted by the network outages in February 2024, and som...

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Lights2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Lights2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Victorian Default Offer Draft Decision 2024-25

Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide our submission to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) Draft Decision of the Victorian Default Offer 2024-25. We welcome the ESC’s draft deci...

Energy prices hitting families hard and bigger price reductions urgently needed say consumer advocates

Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin has welcomed draft decision by the Essential Services Commission (ESC) that will see a modest decrease in energy bills this year, but as more families a...

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_MeterBoxes-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_MeterBoxes-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Protecting consumers of distributed energy resources

With Victorians wanting to play their part in carbon reduction, consumer protections for new energy products and services need to be enhanced. This submission to the Department of Environment Land...

<img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Releases/Energy/Energy_MelbourneLights-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Wholesale energy upheaval should not push default electricity prices higher

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has written to Kate Symons, Chairperson of the Essential Services Commission (ESC), urging caution before accepting electricity retailer arguments to r...

Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Wind2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Wind2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy" />

Retailer authorisation and exemption review: Issues Paper

Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Australian Energy Regulator’s (the AER) Issues Paper as part of its review of the retailer authorisation and exemption frameworks...

Improvements in consumer protection for solar welcome, but more needed

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) review into rooftop solar makes some important proposals improve accountability for solar retailers, but for the new rules to really be effective, reform needs to go f...

Energy Assistance Report: Second Edition

This is Consumer Action Law Centre’s (Consumer Action) second Energy Assistance Report, following our previous report published in July 2019. The original report explored whether the introduction o...

REPORT: Victorians living alone and single parents continue to struggle with energy debt

A report released today by Consumer Action Law Centre has found that while Victoria’s energy retailers are slowly improving their support of people having difficulty paying their bills, Victorians liv...

Victoria’s Embedded Networks Review: Our response to the Draft Recommendations

Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Embedded Networks Review Draft Recommendations Report. We agree with the Panel’s vision that, “...consumers should have equal protections,...

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Lights2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Lights2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Telstra Energy – application for electricity and gas retail licence raises questions

This submission is made jointly to the Essential Services Commission from the Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Counselling Australia, Financial Counselling Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal L...

Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Wind2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Wind2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="Image of wind turbines denoting a submission about energy" />

2022 Victorian Default Offer

Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Essential Services Commission’s (the Commission) consultation paper, Next steps for the Victorian Default Offer (the Consultation Paper). The...

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_MeterBoxes-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_MeterBoxes-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Access, pricing and incentive arrangements for distributed energy resources

Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) Access, pricing and incentive arrangements for distributed energy resources (DER) dra...

<img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Lights-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Next steps for the Victorian Default Offer

Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Essential Services Commission’s (the Commisson) consultation paper Next steps for the Victorian Default Offer. These comments...

<img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Lights-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Victoria’s Embedded Networks Review: Our response

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Embedded Networks Review (the Review) Issues Paper. We support the Victorian Government’s decision to ban emb...

<img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Releases/Energy/Energy_MelbourneLights-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Victoria’s energy reforms positive but enforcement needed: Report

Victoria has taken the lead among Australian states in recent years with significant reforms designed to protect Victorians from being ripped off by energy retailers and ensure people receive appropri...

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Lights2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_Lights2-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Victorian Default Offer 2021 – Draft Decision

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Essential Service Commission’s (the Commission) Victorian Default Offer 2021 Draft Decision (the Draft Decision)...

Supporting energy customers through the coronavirus pandemic – Draft Decision

COVID-19 has caused significant disruption to households in Victoria and has highlighted the need to ensure that people’s health is not put at risk because of barriers to accessing energy for appropri...

Submission supporting the re-authorisation of the Solar Code

Consumer Action has supported the Clean Energy Council (CEC)’s application for re-authorisation of the Solar Retailer Code of Conduct (the Solar Code). Principally, we support the application to avoid...

<img width="1110" height="601" data-src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_MeterBoxes-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image lazyload" alt="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" style="--smush-placeholder-width: 1110px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1110/601;" /><noscript><img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Energy/Energy_MeterBoxes-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Submission: Essential Service Commission’s Electricity Distribution Code review

Consumer Action has commented on the Essential Service Commission’s (ESC) Electricity Distribution Code review – customer service standards draft decision (Draft Decision). We generally support the pr...

Implement strong protections to ensure households benefit from new energy technology

Consumer Action’s legal and financial counselling services have regularly assisted consumers experiencing harm as solar technology grows in popularity in Victoria. Our Power Transformed, Knock It Off!...

<img width="1110" height="601" src="https://consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Submissions/Other/Other_Suburb-1110x601.png" class="attachment-digitallaw-blog-two-column size-digitallaw-blog-two-column wp-post-image" alt="" />

Lack of minimum efficiency standards put renters at greater risk of energy debts

The financial counsellors working on Consumer Action's National Debt Helpline service provided financial counselling to over 11,000 people in the 2018/19 financial year. Often issues with low quality...