Analysis

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Year in review: Some hits, some misses

It was another year of significant developments in the energy sector ranging from carbon emission commitments from both the Federal Government and Opposition, to the start of 5 minute settlements and Victoria's new tougher requirements for retailers.

BY Carl Kitchen Dec 09 2021

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Energy preferences: What drives consumers?

Victoria’s Essential Services Commission has released its latest Victorian Energy Market Report which included a focus on a “striking consumer preference” for large energy retailers. In doing so it sought to unpick customer motivations in choosing their provider.

BY Carl Kitchen Dec 02 2021

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Finding a better energy deal: It's easy to switch

Engaging with the retail market is remarkably easy, and for people with a smart meter on the eastern seaboard of Australia, choosing a new electricity retail offer can be a simple choice.

BY Ben Barnes Nov 25 2021

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Electricity price trends: Breaking down the costs

The AEMC’s residential electricity price trends report shows the ongoing fall in power prices for households. We take a look at the report, what’s behind the price reductions, and break down costs across the states.

BY Carl Kitchen Nov 25 2021

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Five-minute settlement starts

A momentous change in the National Electricity Market occurs at midnight. Energy will no longer be settled in 30-minute slices, instead each five-minute interval will be settled against its own dispatch price. Sound simple? Conceptually perhaps. But hundreds of millions of dollars were invested to make it happen and it’s affected all parts of the industry.

BY Ben Skinner & Ben Barnes Sep 30 2021

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Energy retailers: What do consumers think?

The latest assessment of consumer sentiment shows record levels of satisfaction with energy retailers and a “growing belief that consumers are getting better value for money”. The data released by Energy Consumers Australia shows a steady improvement in the satisfaction trendline since December 2017.

BY Carl Kitchen Jul 01 2021

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Fair for who? Victoria's Energy Fairness Plan

Victoria's Energy Fairness Plan was introduced via press release just days before the 2018 state election. While the Plan was an election commitment, the Victorian Government has not made the case for the alleged benefit the parcel of these reforms will bring energy consumers.

BY Hamish Fitzsimmons May 27 2021

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Winter energy bills: Avoid a shock

With colder weather comes an increase in electricity and gas use. The AEC has published analysis of average electricity and gas costs by region using the latest energy consumption data. It shows seasonal breakdowns of energy use for each major network, as well as state by state average gas and electricity costs. It also offers simple tips on how people can save on their bills.

BY Hamish Fitzsimmons Apr 29 2021

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New survey shows shifts in consumer sentiment

The latest in a series of surveys on the experience of consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a snapshot of the performance of retailers, as well as the level of concern among consumers about managing their power bills.

BY Carl Kitchen Apr 15 2021

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The retail regulatory framework: Still fit for purpose?

During the height of COVID-19, Australian retailers were concerned that the impacts of government interventions might unintentionally impact the ability of retailers to meet their upstream obligations. The impacts on retailers of providing additional protections – on top of the already notable consumer protections in place - and the longer-term debt implications for customers remained a concern.

BY Ben Barnes Apr 08 2021

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Re-regulation: What do latest retail reports reveal?

At the end of November each year, the AER and ESC publish their assessments of the performance of the retail market for the previous financial year.

BY Ben Barnes Dec 03 2020

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Putting the squeeze on prices and competition

A new paper has found a drop in the spread of retail market offers following the re-introduction of price re-regulation in July last year.

BY Carl Kitchen Oct 08 2020

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Help To Stay On Track: Retail help during COVID-19

The ongoing challenges of COVID-19 - and most recently the hard lock down in Melbourne and restrictions more broadly in Victoria - have brought the economic stress on households to the fore.

BY AEC Sep 10 2020

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Littlechild assessment: Did the UK watchdog get it wrong?

Energy affordability and the benefits of competitive markets have been under intense scrutiny in recent years. Concerns about affordability led to a major inquiry into the retail market by the UK’s competition regulator.

BY Carl Kitchen Aug 06 2020

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Retail stress: An emerging COVID challenge

Australia remains in a two-pronged crisis caused by COVID-19. As providers of an essential service, energy retailers will play a key role in both the economic crisis likely to impact Australia for years to come, and the health crisis.

BY Ben Barnes Jul 23 2020

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Preparing for the Consumer Data Right: Balancing opportunity and risk

With the Consumer Data Right underway in the banking sector, attention has now shifted to getting the energy sector CDR-ready.

BY Rhys Thomas Jul 16 2020

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Default Market Offer: Missing the mark in 2020-21

On 30 April 2020 the Australian Energy Regulator released its updated Default Market Offer prices for 2020-21.

BY Sarah McNamara Jun 18 2020

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What is “Effective Competition” and do price caps help or hinder?

Energy affordability has been on the radar in Great Britain in much the same way as in Australia with questions being raised about the benefits of the competitive market and the level of household bills attracting increasing amounts of political attention.

BY Carl Kitchen Oct 24 2019

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Putting VEPC to the test: Is shopping around really worth just $45?

When grand statements are made about the value of engaging in the retail electricity market, they are generally made by one of two kinds of people: Those who claim to know something about the market, and those that don’t. The latter category tends to be the domain of commentators aiming for effect. The former category tends to revolve around data.

BY Ben Barnes Sep 05 2019

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BEAP: How well will it work for small business?

On Monday the Commonwealth Government launched the Business Energy Advice Program (BEAP). The $11.7 million program aims to help small businesses across the nation save money on their energy bills and increase their energy efficiency.

BY Ben Barnes Aug 29 2019

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