Energy and water

Media and commentary related to our work to protect and advance consumer protections for essential services, and accelerate a just transition to net zero.

  • Engaging with consumers: How do the energy distributors stack up?

    Essential Energy has come out on top in PIAC’s first formal evaluation of the consumer engagement practices for the three electricity distribution businesses in NSW. Essential Energy, who received a 4 star rating, was closely followed by Endeavour on 3.5 stars. Ausgrid demonstrated the least effective engagement of the three, receiving 2.8 stars. In determining…

  • AEMC mulls rule change to boost ‘demand response’ in National Electricity Market

    ‘The Australian Energy Market Commission is mulling a rule change that would accelerate the growth of demand response – an alternative source of power to conventional generation – and boost the grid’s resilience to supply squeezes and blackouts. ‘The Energy Security Board expected that demand response – where customers are paid to curtail their electricity…

  • ACCC review confirms electricity market not working for consumers

    The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has called on Australian governments to take strong action to bring down electricity prices and restore consumer confidence following the release of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry Final Report. The report finds that consumers are paying for unnecessary costs at every level of…

  • AEMC review: stronger action needed by energy retailers and regulators to ensure that the market is working for consumers

    Following the release of the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) 2018 Retail Energy Competition Review, PIAC’s Energy and Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program (EWCAP) has called for stronger action by energy retailers and regulators to ensure that the market is working for consumers. ‘We welcome the Commission’s report and note the finding that the deregulation of…

  • Bill shock as gas companies overcharge by nearly $800

    ‘Households are being warned to check if their gas bills contain ­wildly inaccurate “estimated” meter readings, after a Sydney woman was repeatedly sent ­erroneous bills, with the latest more than 20 times her actual usage.’

  • Electricity price win for Victorian consumers

    Victorian households have avoided further increases to their electricity bills following decisions by the Australian Competition Tribunal released this week. The Tribunal rejected arguments by the five Victorian Distribution Networks that they should be allowed to recover an extra $345 million from Victorian consumers. The decisions are the last in a series of cases heard…

  • National Energy Guarantee an opportunity for sensible discussion on reliability vs cost

    Following the announcement of the Turnbull Government’s National Energy Guarantee, PIAC’s Energy and Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program (EWCAP) has called for the interests of people, not coal, to be kept at the centre of the debate on energy reliability and emissions. ‘We welcome the government’s commitment to a long-term plan to maintain energy reliability and…

  • Battery warranties leave consumers in the dark: Report

    New research released today has revealed that a majority of residential battery storage systems commonly sold in Australia have warranties that breach Australian Consumer law and some could be inappropriate in the hot Australian climate. Ensuring Consumer Protections for Purchasers of Residential Battery Storage Systems, by Dr Penelope Crossley of the University of Sydney, was…

  • Electricity bill relief package welcome news for households doing it tough

    PIAC’s Energy + Water Consumers Advocacy Program (EWCAP) has welcomed the NSW electricity bill relief package, announced yesterday. EWCAP Team Leader, Craig Memery said that the full package, which includes a combination of rebates and discounts for low-income households and small businesses, makes good sense. ‘Electricity bills have more than doubled over the past decade,…

  • Speech to ACCC electricity supply & prices inquiry public forum

    Jonathon Hunyor, CEO, Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Sydney, 14 August 2017. Thank you to the ACCC for the invitation to speak this evening. We are grateful for the opportunity and commend the inclusive and rigorous approach that the Commission has taken to this important review. PIAC’s Energy and Water Consumer Advocacy Program is the voice…

158 results found