PIAC responded to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (the Commission) Energy Consumer Framework Issues Paper 1 concerning new energy products and service.
We propose a tiered approach to consumer protections for new energy products and services, including Explicit Informed Consent, commensurate to the potential harm from the category of load being offered. Category of load can vary from flexible to inflexible, with inflexible loads having a higher potential to cause harm to a consumer if lost, and flexible loads having a lower potential to cause harm.
We address consultation questions regarding new market developments and business models, the role of existing regulatory provisions in encouraging or discouraging new products and services, the definition of essential energy supply, the appropriateness of voluntary frameworks and other topics.
