Essential Services Commission Archives - Renew Economy

Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency has finally become an election talking point, but for all the wrong reasons
State Liberals and mainstream media are keen to criticise Victoria’s popular energy upgrades scheme, but the watchdog says it has a handle on bad behaviour.
Rachel Williamson

Oct 23, 2026

6
Policy & Planning

Electricity bills to fall even further than predicted in state as renewables share nears 50 pct
Regulator sets default price of power even lower than projected in March, giving the renewables-forward state government a win with voters ahead of the November election.
Sophie Vorrath

May 25, 2026

0
Policy & Planning

Electricity bills to fall in state where renewables make up nearly half of generation mix
State pricing regulator proposes across-the-board cuts to default electricity prices for households and small businesses for the coming financial year.
Sophie Vorrath

Mar 12, 2026

9
Policy & Planning

Households lock in small discount on electricity as network costs eat into solar savings
Regulators say electricity price cuts being delivered by cheap renewables – mostly consumer owned rooftop solar – are being diminished by network and other costs.
Sophie Vorrath

May 23, 2024

0
New blow to fossil gas as regulator shifts death spiral risk to new connections
Households in Victoria could soon be required to pay up front for a new connection to the gas network to defray cost of stranded assets for other users.
Sophie Vorrath

Nov 15, 2023

0
Markets

“Honeymoon over” as another small “solar friendly” retailer succumbs to energy chaos
Elysian Energy, which had 7,500 customers across Victoria and the other NEM states, becomes latest casualty of Australia’s energy market crisis.
Sophie Vorrath

Sep 2, 2022

0
Utilities

Telstra cleared to sell electricity in Victoria, with strict conditions
Telstra gets all-clear to retail electricity and gas in Victoria, but with special protections in place due to its “extensive history of non-compliance” in the telco sector.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 17, 2021

0
Solar

Victoria regulator lowers rooftop solar tariff, says few retailers offering variable rate
Victoria regulator makes small cuts to 2020/21 recommended solar feed-in tariff, says only one retailer offering customers both single and time-varying FiT.
Sophie Vorrath

Feb 27, 2020

0
Solar

Victoria rooftop solar tariff cut as regulator pushes for mandatory time-varying FiT
Essential Services Commission wants retailers to offer customers choice of “single rate” feed-in tariff or a FiT that ranges from 9c/kWh and 12.3c/kWh, depending on the time of day.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 6, 2019

1
Markets

Energy retailer “switching” driving prices up, not down, says regulator
ESC chair says outcome of retailer switching drive has been “contrary to usual expectations” of increased market competition.
Sophie Vorrath

May 15, 2018

8