Justice, Opportunity and Shared Wealth for all South Australians
Regulatory Arrangements for Embedded Networks: Snapshot of stakeholder positions
This report outlines the various positions of key stakeholders as articulated in submissions regarding regulatory arrangements for embedded networks. It provides an overview of the different perspectives in play, as well as an important insight into possible future reform directions.
Review of the Australian Energy Regulator's (AER) and Essential Services Commission of Victoria's (ESC) Frameworks for Customers Facing Payment Difficulties
This report provides an assessment of the ESC’s Victorian Hardship Review Final Report and the AER’s Sustainable Payments Framework. It will consider whether the revised regulatory arrangements provide a sustainable solution that encourages customer choice and agency in the future.
Review of the Australian Energy Regulator's and Essential Services Commission of Victoria's Frameworks for Customers Facing Payment Difficulties
Looking Around the Corner: A discussion on Current South Australian Power System Risks.
The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) has been active in South Australian energy market matters for some time, especially in relation to consumer protection, retail pricing and network determinations, but has not generally commented on issues associated with NEM (National Energy Market) wholesale markets … until now.
Better Solutions for Helping Customers with Financial Difficulties: Energy and Water. A cross-sector approach to supporting vulnerable consumers.
Download: Better Solutions for Helping Customers with Financial Difficulties: Energy and Water
The Retail and Exemption Framework: Emerging Issues for Consumers. A report on the growing concern with consumer protection arrangements for exempt consumers.
This report focuses on the retail and network exemption framework. On-sellers and embedded network operators (who are usually one and the same person) are granted an exemption by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) from obtaining a retailer authorisation, and (separately) an exemption from registration with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) as a distribution business.
In early October SACOSS held a series of face to face consultations with consumers and consumer representatives to consider SA Power Networks’ (SAPN) proposed demand tariffs. The aim of these consultations was to inform consumers of the proposed changes and to document their response. These consultations were supplemented by telephone interviews with business consumer
representatives.
State of the South Australian Retail Energy Market 2014 - A review of retail price deregulation in SA from the perspective of household consumers.
The State of the Energy Market Report is published by SACOSS annually with the 2014 report as the second edition. The purpose of this report is to highlight issues in the retail market that impact on consumers and to provide an overview of the information consumers need to make financially sound decisions regarding retail energy contracts.
South Australian households spend over a billion dollars each year on electricity. The 2-year price freeze negotiated with incumbent electricity supplier AGL by the South Australian Government as part of price deregulation in SA expired on February 1st 2015. South Australians are now solely reliant on a competitive electricity market to contain prices.
With the introduction of smart meters firmly on the Australian regulatory and policy making agenda SACOSS believes it is imperative consumers have access to accurate and relevant information in order to make sound decisions regarding the metering mechanisms of their energy supply.
In line with this thinking SACOSS hosted a Smart Meters Master Class in December 2014 with the purpose of bringing together senior energy advocates and topic experts from the energy industry to discuss the pertinent benefits and issues of smart meter technology.
