When energy is unaffordable what can people do to keep this essential service?

"I speak to people who hold a lot of shame around these kind of debts... but this is an essential service, and it is important for a person's dignity... to have access to electricity, gas and water....

May 9, 2025

Energy is essential to our daily lives, and a core cost for people contacting the National Debt Helpline

Energy is essential to our daily lives, and a core cost for people contacting the National Debt Helpline (NDH). Energy is one of the core expenses in the household budget, and is essential to a liv...

March 3, 2025

Network Outage Review

As extreme weather events continue to increase, it is imperative that Victorians’ access to essential services is protected and prioritised by Government, regulators and industry. Consumer Action L...

August 2, 2024

Victorian Default Offer price drop will help thousands of families but more needs to be done

Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin says the Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) decision to lower the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) price is welcome but doesn’t go far enough to help th...

May 23, 2024

Lower Victorian Default Offer for electricity welcomed but consumers in energy hardship need much more relief

More callers in paid employment contacting the National Debt Helpline are struggling with energy debt and reporting an increase in energy retailers providing inadequate hardship assistance. That’s...

April 23, 2024

 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...

March 19, 2024

Joint Submission: Getting the Victorian Default Offer right

This submission represents the shared view of leading Victorian community sector organisations and energy consumer advocates. Our submission identifies where there remains work to be done, and Victori...

December 22, 2023

Energy Assistance Report 3rd Edition

Understanding the experience of Victorians dealing with energy hardship Access to affordable, reliable energy is one of the key challenges facing governments, the energy sector, and consumers in 20...

July 13, 2023

REPORT: More support needed to help Victorians households manage power bills  

A new report released today by Consumer Action Law Centre has found that while Victoria’s energy retailers continue to improve their support for people in financial hardship, many Victorians continue...

July 13, 2023

More support needed for Victorian households as cost of default prices for electricity will increase by 25%

The Essential Services Commission (ESC) has listened to consumer groups’ calls for a reduction of the proposed increase to the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) for energy in Victoria. However, today's an...

May 25, 2023

Vic energy regulator urged to scale back proposed price hikes

Victoria's leading social, legal, financial and consumer rights' bodies have united to oppose a dramatic planned rise in power prices across Victoria. The state's independent energy regulator, the Es...

April 13, 2023

Energy price hikes a further blow to families during cost-of-living crisis

Energy price hikes announced today of more than 30 per cent in the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) draft determination, are yet another blow to families during the worst cost of-living crisis in a gener...

March 15, 2023

Victorian Default Offer 2023-24: Consultation Paper

Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) Consultation Paper on the review of the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) for 2023-24. On bal...

January 27, 2023

Repeat offender Alinta Energy fined $380,000 for failing to help Victorians in dire need 

Consumer Action has welcomed the Essential Services Commission (ESC) imposing $380,000 in penalties on energy retailer Alinta Energy Retail Sales Pty Ltd (Alinta Energy) for failing to provide adequat...

January 25, 2023

Opinion: Equity must be central to gas market intervention

An edited version of this opinion piece was published in The Guardian on 5 December 2022 The Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to intervene in the gas market to push down very high bills, likely throug...

December 5, 2022

 Water prices a welcome relief but hardship concerns remain

Consumer Action has welcomed the price proposals from Victorian water businesses for the period 2023-28 in a submission to the Essential Services Commissions Initial Feedback: 2023-28 Water Price Revi...

December 1, 2022

Taxi Non-Cash Payment Surcharge Review 2022

Consumer Action has made a submission to the Essential Services Commission in relation to its Taxi Non-Cash Payment Surcharge Review 2022. The submission opposes the proposed methodology outlined i...

August 2, 2022