Victorian Default Offer 2026-27 draft decision
The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) leads this joint submission with Consumer Action Law Centre, community services sector organisations, and energy consumer advocates who welcome the draft decision by the Essential Services Commission (ESC) to reduce the cost of the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) for electricity by three per cent
on average across the state.
Any reduction in the cost of an essential service like electricity will bring welcome relief to many consumers in the context of high cost of living.
We hope that this reduction will carry forward to the final decision. However, we are concerned that updated data feeding into the final decision, including network costs, may negate savings from lower environmental costs.
It is important to emphasise that the VDO increased by 25 per cent in 2023–24, and reductions since then have not brought costs down to prior levels.
We are now entering a period of further economic uncertainty, when costs may rise again. As such, more work is needed by industry and policymakers to make sure Victorians can get their energy needs
met.
Read the full submission (PDF).
VCOSS joint submission_VDO 2026-27 draft decision_(FINAL)