Energy Action Group Inc

Victoria, Australia

ABN 14 025 686 203 Incorporated Association No. A00112789L

(last altered 3 October 2003)

Gas, Electricity & Water

Consumer and Environmental Advocacy

           

NEWS

 

1. Power Failure: Why Victorian Households Are Not Plugging into Electricity Competition
by Andrea Sharam

Institute for Social Research , Swinburne University
 
Abstract
In January 2002 the competitive electricity market was opened to Victorian and New South Wales domestic electricity customers. Victoria households were surveyed in the second half of 2002 about their understanding of the new market and their experience of full retail competition.  The survey produced some unanticipated findings. Foremost was the extensive customer disinterest and distrust in "the electricity market", which has found its expression in high levels of inertia. While policy makers had reason to investigate customer attitudes before implementing full competition, they failed to do so, despite the need for active consumer participation to make the market work. The Victorian government faces the spectre of a costly  policy failure that has its roots in
elite policy making that overlooks the importance of popular support if competition policy is to succeed.

the full text version is available at the following link

http://www.sisr.net/publications/workingpapers/No8_AS_final.PDF

 

 

2.      Pre-payment meters (PPM)

The issue is fuel poverty not technology. EAG opposes the introduction of this discriminatory technology. PPMs have received approvals in NSW, SA and have already been rolled out in Tasmania. Electricity retailers have indicated their intention to seek introduction of PPMs into Victoria. There is nothing to prevent such a roll out. The Victorian government has stated that it continues to be opposed to this technology although a ban is not being considered. The following paper was prepared by EAG with the financial assistance of the Consumers Utility Advocacy Centre, and with input from VCOSS, St Vincent de Paul and Kildonan Child and Family Services.

 

Second Class Customers: Prepayment Meters, the Fuel Poor and Discrimination

 

 

3.      Gas and Electricity price changes for 2003 – some pain, some gain

 

4.      New Report - Paying Too Much:  Redlining, Economic Discrimination & Essential Services 

By the Energy Action Group and the Footscray Community Legal and Financial Counselling Centre 

Basic human rights should deliver affordable essential services…but can competition in essential services deliver this? Are rural, low-consumption and low-income consumers at risk of price/service discrimination as traditional universal service provision in essential services is removed? Trends in banking & telecommunications in Australia, and in electricity in Victoria indicate that vulnerable consumers of essential services are experiencing differential treatment, which is making their access to this service more expensive and less adequate. 

Paying Too Much was launched on the 9th October 2002 by Victorian Equal Opportunity Commissioner,

Di Sisely and was made possible by the generous support of the Reichstein Foundation.

 

 

5. Discussion Paper “Provider of Last Resort: Can Vulnerable Customers be Protected in De-regulated Electricity Markets?” looks at the existing safety net for vulnerable customers in Victoria, and explain why it will not work. The report is timely given the Victorian government announced in September that it would extend the current safety net beyond 2003. EAG is now campaigning for the safety net to guarantee access and affordability.

6. Full Retail Competition in Electricity– started January 13th 2002 Click here for more details              

7. From Universal Service to No Service? The Redlining of Vulnerable Electricity Customers in Victoria by Andrea Sharam. This research examines the likely impact of full retail competition in electricity on certain customers groups that may be classed as “vulnerable customers”. These include low income, low consumption, rural/remote and tenants. The report highlights the lack of obligation to supply in Victoria, and critiques the temporary safety net (the standing offers) as institutionalising price/service discrimination (redlining) against the very customers such a ‘provider of last resort’ scheme is presumably intended to protect.

Available in pdf format download report download cover

 

8. Green Power & buying renewable energy

 

9. Want to know about “interval” or smart meters?  New report out now! (30th April 2003)

 

10. Reliability of electrical supply click here

 

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