Utilities
National Electricity Market - Capacity Building in the Community Sector
Consumer Action is funded by the National Electricity Consumers Advocacy Panel to auspice the NEM Project.
The NEM Project is designed to develop the capacity of the community sector to participate in debates surrounding the policy and regulatory framework of the national electricity market (NEM) and related energy market reform issues, as well as to advocate on behalf of consumers, particularly low-income and vulnerable consumers.
The NEM refers to the rules and procedures, including in relation to setting of prices, for the trading and transportation of electricity. It also refers to the interconnected physical infrastructure to enable transportation of electricity across State/Territory borders. Current reforms to the national energy regulatory framework (both electricity and gas) include the transition of regulation of retail and distribution to the national governance system, and the new institutions the Australian Energy Regulator and the Austrailan Energy Market Commission.
The NEM Project aims to educate community sector-based advocates about the NEM and current energy market reforms through:
- bi-monthly telephone conferences
- ongoing national meetings.;
- the quarterly publication, On the Wire. To see the past editions of On the Wire click here; and
- developing and contributing to joint advocacy.
Through the NEM Project, Consumer Action aims to demystify the issues and language surrounding the NEM and thereby increase the capacity of advocates to participate in NEM related debates.
One of the most significant aspects of the NEM Project has been the development of a national network of community organisation-based advocates. This network provides a unique and efficient mechanism for collaboration. It encourages the pooling of resources in order to respond to critical debates in a timely and targeted way. The central coordination of meetings and written submissions via the NEM Project facilitates communication and enables national community sector communication and collaboration, particularly in relation to written submissions on energy issues to a degree not seen before.
We are grateful to the Advocacy Panel for its generous funding of the NEM Project. To find out more about the NEM Project contact Gerard Brody or to see our latest submission, visit (other publications page).
On the Wire is the quarterly publication of the NEM Project.
Victorian electricity reform
The CLCV and the Monash University Centre for Privatisation and Public Accountability have launched a joint research project which examines the extent of benefits that have resulted from electricity industry reforms in Victoria for consumers. In particular, the project assessed whether Victorian consumers have received beneficial outcomes from reform, including improved services, lower prices, improved access and accountability. Click here to view the report
The report found that benefits associated with reforms to the Victorian electricity reform, including the introduction of full retail competition, have not been equally distributed across all consumer groups. For example, in the area of price benefits, domestic consumers have experienced only a slight decrease compared to industrial customers. Further, consumers' capacity to exercise choice and access market contracts was more difficult for low-volume users and rural and regional Victorians. The report recommends that further work needs to be done to enhance the role of stakeholder consultation within the regulatory decision-making process.
We thank the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) for funding this project.
For more information about the Consumer Outcomes from Electricity Reform project, or Consumer Action's work in relation to Victorian Electricity Reform, contact Gerard Brody.
Water
Consumer Action continues to work on water policy as an area of priority, particularly responding to recent proposals to reform the water sector
Through its work on water policy, Consumer Action carefully considers the manner in which the regulation of water, including pricing, restrictions for non-payment and cost incentives for improved water efficiency, is likely to impact on Victorian consumers, particularly low-income and vulnerable consumers.
Consumer Action, in conjunction with Environment Victoria, has recently completed an Issues Paper (funded by CUAC), Water: Access, Affordability and Sustainability which analyses the changing policy and regulatory framework for water through various lenses, including from human rights, consumer and environmental perspectives. A copy of the report can be found (here).
Consumer Action is also undertaking a project investigating the impact on consumers of the independent regulation of Victoria's water industry, also funded by CUAC. The project will assist Victorian consumers by analysing the impact and effect of the Essential Services Commission's (ESC) regulation of the Victorian water sector and will thereby improve consumer advocacy with respect to the future regulatory activities of the ESC.
Consumer Action is also contributing to national urban water reforms processes, through membership in the National Water Commission’s Urban Water Advisory Group. The National Water Commission is charged with implementing the intergovernmental agreement, the National Water Initiative.
For more information about Consumer Action's work on water issues contact Gerard Brody. To read recent water policy submissions, visit our publications page.