Our publications, 2018-19

Here are all the major publications (such as decisions, codes, determinations, consultation papers and electricity and gas licences) we produced in 2018–19.

 Accident towing 

We review Victorian accident towing and storage charges, then use our findings to make recommendations to the Minister for Roads.

• Accident Towing and Storage Fees Review 2018: Draft Report
• Accident Towing and Storage Fees Review 2018: Final Report

 Corporate

Our annual reports review our performance for each financial year.

• Annual report 2018–19

 Domestic building insurance

We report every two years on the adequacy and validity of the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority domestic building insurance (DBI) premiums.

• Domestic Building Insurance Premium Validation Review 2016–2018
• Victoria’s Domestic Building Insurance Scheme: Performance report 2017–18

 Electricity and gas

We licence a range of Victorian gas and electricity businesses. We also publish codes and guidelines that regulated businesses must follow, and conduct reviews and inquiries that promote the long-term interests of electricity and gas consumers.

Compliance and performance reporting

We regularly monitor and report on how well energy licensees are complying with their regulatory requirements.

• Energy and Compliance Enforcement Priorities 2019–20
• Compliance and Performance Reporting Guideline: Version 4
• Payment Difficulty Framework Amendments to the Compliance and Performance Reporting Guideline: Final Decision

Electricity Distribution Code

The Electricity Distribution Code regulates distributing and connecting electricity to customers. It also covers embedded generating units (such as solar panels) and transferring electricity between distribution systems.

• Electricity Distribution Code (Version 9A)
• Electricity Distribution Code Review: Approach Paper
• Electricity Distribution Code Review of Voltage Standards for Bushfire Mitigation: Final Decision
• Electricity Distribution Code Version 9A: Tracked Changes
• Voltage Standards for Bushfire Mitigation Technical Consultant Report
• Review of Voltage Standard for Bushfire Mitigation: Draft Decision
• Review of Voltage Standards for Bushfire Mitigation: Draft Decision (Electricity Distribution Code, Version 9A)

Electricity and gas licences

We review and make decisions on applications for electricity and gas licences. We can also vary or revoke licences. 

Electricity generation licences

• Yatpool Sun Farm Pty Ltd
• Moorabool Wind Farm Pty Ltd
• Moorabool South Wind Farm Pty Ltd
• Lal Lal Wind Farms Nom Co Pty Ltd
• Numurkah Solar Farm Pty Ltd
• Bulgana Wind Farm Pty Ltd
• Murra Warra Project Co Pty Ltd
• LMS Energy Pty Ltd
• The Trustee for Wemen Solar Unit Trust
• Pacific Hydro Crowlands Pty Ltd
• Gess ProjectCo Pty Ltd
• Iraak Sun Farm Pty Ltd

Electricity retail licences

• Power Club Limited
• SIMEC Zen Energy Retail Pty Ltd
• Elysian Energy Pty Ltd
• Energy Locals Pty Ltd

Electricity wholesale licences

• Moorabool Wind Farm Interface Company Pty Ltd
• Telstra Energy (Generation) Pty Ltd
• EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd
• Energy Australia Pty Ltd

Gas retail licences

• Tango Energy Pty Ltd
• Agora Retail Pty Ltd
• 1st Energy Pty Ltd

Energy Compliance and Enforcement Policy

The Energy Compliance and Enforcement Policy gives regulated energy businesses and other stakeholders information on our approach to compliance and enforcement in the Victorian energy market.

• Energy Compliance and Enforcement Policy
• Energy Compliance and Enforcement Policy: Final Decision
• Energy Compliance and Enforcement Policy: Draft Decision
• Energy Compliance and Enforcement Policy: Revised Draft (January 2019)

Energy Retail Code

The Energy Retail Code sets out the rules electricity and gas retailers must follow when selling energy to Victorian customers.

• Energy Retail Code Changes to Support Family Violence Provisions for Retailers: Draft Decision
• Energy Retail Code Changes to Support Family Violence Provisions for Retailers: Final Decision
• Energy Retail Code Obligations for Exempt Sellers Under the General Exemption Order 2017: Draft Decision
• Energy Retail Code Obligations for Exempt Sellers Under the General Exemption Order 2017: Final Decision

Family violence

View all family violence resources for businesses. 

• Providing Family Violence Support: Exploring Ways Energy Retailers Can Provide Family Violence Assistance That Is Safe and Effective

Minimum feed-in tariff

Minimum feed-in tariffs are what your energy company should pay you for renewable power you export to the grid via renewable sources such as solar panels.

• Minimum Feed-in Tariff to Apply From 1 July 2019: Draft Decision
• Minimum Electricity Feed-in Tariffs to Apply From 1 July 2019: Final Decision
• Wholesale Price Forecasts for Calculating Minimum Feed-in Tariff
• Fact Sheet: Information for Solar Customers

Penalty notices

We have the power to issue penalty notices to energy companies for breaches of the regulatory framework, which includes the Energy Retail Code, Electricity Distribution Code and relevant legislation. 

• 1st Energy penalty notice (explicit informed consent)
• Alinta Energy electricity penalty notices 2018 (explicit informed consent)
• Alinta Energy gas penalty notices 2018 (explicit informed consent)
• AusNet Services penalty notices 1–15 (planned interruption notification)
• CitiPower penalty notices 31–33 (planned interruption notification)
• Jemena penalty notices 26–30 (planned interruption notification)
• Powercor penalty notices 34–36 (planned interruption notification)
• Simply Energy explicit informed consent penalty notice 2018
• United Energy penalty notices 16–24 (planned interruption notification)

Retail market review

Bills and marketing

• Technical Consultation on the Victorian Energy Fact Sheet: Draft Decision
• Technical Consultation on the Victorian Energy Fact Sheet: Final Decision
• Draft Energy Fact Sheet Guidelines
• Energy Fact Sheet Guidelines
• Helping Customers Engage Confidently in the Retail Energy Market: Draft Decision
• Helping Customers Engage Confidently in the Retail Energy Market: Final Decision
• Building Trust Through New Customer Entitlements in the Retail Energy Market: Draft Decision
• Building Trust Through New Customer Entitlements in the Retail Energy Market: Final Decision
• Consequential Amendments Related to the Victorian Default Offer: Draft Decision
• Consequential Amendments Related to the Victorian Default Offer: Final Decision

Ensuring contracts are clear and fair

• Ensuring Contracts are Clear and Fair: Issues Paper

Victorian Default Offer advice

• Victorian Default Offer for Domestic and Small Business Electricity Customers: Staff Working Paper
• Victorian Default Offer to Apply from 1 July 2019: Draft Advice
• Victorian Default Offer to Apply from 1 July 2019: Final Advice
• Victorian Default Offer Draft Advice Price Model
• Victorian Default Offer Final Advice Price Model

Victorian Default Offer

We determine prices for standing offers covering electricity retail services in Victoria. In 2018–19, we prepared to make a price determination for the offer to apply from 1 January 2020.

• Victorian Default Offer to Apply from 1 January 2019: Issues Paper

 Local government

We administer higher council rate caps, produce council compliance reports and conduct inquiries and reviews that promote sustainable outcomes for councils and the community.

Council compliance reports

We determine whether councils have complied with the relevant rate cap when they set their rates for each financial year.

• Council Rate Cap Compliance Report 2018–19

Higher cap applications

We assess, then accept or reject higher rate caps proposed by councils.

• Monash City Council Application for a Higher Cap 2018–19: Decision
• Mansfield Shire Council: Decision on Application for a Higher Cap 2019–20
• Warrnambool Higher Rate Cap Application: Final Decision 2018–19

Our advice on setting council rate caps

We provide the Minister for Local Government with advice on the average rate cap for each financial year.

• Letter to Minister for Local government: Advice on the Average Rate Cap for 2019–20

Outcomes report

Every two years, we report on the outcomes of rate capping in Victoria and identify any impacts or trends that might be emerging across the local government sector.

• Outcomes Report
• Fact sheets for all councils in Victoria
• Small Shire Council Group Fact Sheet
• Large Shire Council Group Fact Sheet
• Regional City Council Group Fact Sheet
• Metropolitan Council Group Fact Sheet
• Interface Council Group Fact Sheet

 Port of Melbourne

We monitor the Port of Melbourne's compliance with price setting regulations, develop guidelines, and produce inquiries, studies and reviews that promote the long-term interest of port users. 

• Statement of Regulatory Approach: Port of Melbourne Pricing Order
• Interim Commentary: Port of Melbourne Tariff Compliance Statement 2018–19

 Rail access

We published no major publications in relation to our rail access work.

 Taxis (commercial passenger vehicles)

We regulate costs related to commercial passenger vehicles, which includes unbooked ride-share services. As part of this regulatory work, we regulate maximum taxi fares. We also produce annual monitoring reports, and conduct reviews and inquiries on the commercial passenger vehicle industry that promote the long-term interests of consumers.

Commercial passenger vehicle fare review

 We reviewed the maximum fares for unbooked commercial passenger vehicle services.

• Unbooked commercial passenger vehicle fare review 2018: Final Decision
• Determination of maximum fares for unbooked taxis (from 1 October 2018)

Taxi non-cash payment surcharge review

The taxi non-cash payment surcharge applies when a taxi passenger pays for a fare using non-cash payment transaction options, including credit, debit and charge card. We are reviewing the maximum surcharge.

• Taxi Non-Cash Payment Surcharge Review 2019: Consultation Paper
• Taxi Non-Cash Payment Surcharge Review 2019: Draft Decision
• Taxi Non-Cash Payment Surcharge Review 2019: Draft Decision - Benchmarking Spreadsheet
• Taxi Non-Cash Payment Surcharge Review 2019: First Determination

 Victorian Energy Upgrades

We regulate participants and products in the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program to deliver energy efficiency improvements which are more affordable for consumers, and reduces their long term energy consumption.

The program released numerous updates throughout the year while also producing guides for program participants.

Activity 21A non omni-directionality transition period consultation 2019

• Activity 21A non omni-directionality transition period: consultation paper

Activities offered under the VEU program

We regulate energy efficiency activities that create Victorian energy efficiency certificates (VEECs) under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.

• Appliances Activity Guide
• Benchmark Rating Method Activity Guide
• Benchmark Rating Method Compliance Requirements
• Building Based Lighting Upgrade Activity Guide
• Gas Efficiency Activity Guide
• Measurement and Verification Method Activity Guide
• Measurement and Verification Method Compliance Requirements
• Non-Building Based Lighting Upgrade (Activity 35) Guide
• Public Lighting Upgrade Activity Guide
• Space Conditioning, Shower Rose and Incandescent Lighting Activity Guide
• Water Heating and Space Heating/Cooling Activity Guide

Energy acquisition statements

Each year, energy retailers with scheme acquisitions must submit audited annual energy acquisition statements. It relates to the purchase for on-sale to prescribed customers in Victoria of electricity and/or gas from AEMO and/or gas from a producer, storage provider or interconnected pipeline operator. Annual energy acquisitions statements must be lodged with us by 30 April each year. We produce guidance resources to ensure the statements are completed correctly.

• Relevant Entity Guide
• 2018 Annual Energy Acquisition Statement for Relevant Entities
• VEU Tripartite Audit Deed

Performance reports

Our Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) performance reports detail the regulatory and administrative work undertaken as part of the program.

• VEU Performance Report 2018

Scheduled activity premises

Occupiers of a scheduled activity premises can opt in to the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program to register Victorian energy efficiency certificates (VEECs) for the site.

• Large Energy Users’ Scheduled Activity Premises Guide

Training and licensing requirements consultation 2018

We proposed a new framework to minimise safety risks associated with the replacement of lamps, in particular compact fluorescent lamps.

• Training and Licensing Requirements for Activity 21A: Consultation Paper

VEET guidelines review 2019

We made changes to the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) guidelines, following a review and consultation in early 2019.

• Review of VEET Guidelines 2019: Final Decision
• VEET Guidelines 2019 (Version 8)
• Review of the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Guidelines: Draft Decision
• Draft Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Guidelines: Version 8

VEU panel of auditors

Information on how to join our Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) panel of auditors, from which energy retailers may nominate an auditor to audit their annual energy acquisition statements.

• Information Guide for Potential VEU Audit Panel Members

VEU product applicants

We list energy-saving products on the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Register of Products.

• Appliance Product Application Guide
• Application Guide for Product Applicants
• In-Home Display Unit Product Application Guide
• Space Conditioning and Water Efficiency Product Application Guide
• Water Heating and Space Heating/Cooling Product Application Guide

 Water

We conduct price reviews for all Victorian water businesses. We also monitor the performance of each business, and conduct reviews and inquiries that promote the long-term interests of water consumers.

Customer service codes

In 2018-19, we had three water customer service codes: two for urban water businesses, and another for rural ones. These codes specify the standards and conditions that water businesses must comply with when they provide water or wastewater services to customers.

• Customer Service Code Urban Water Businesses (1 August 2018)
• Customer Service Code Rural Water Businesses (1 August 2018)

Goulburn-Murray Water price review

In 2018, we started reviewing Goulburn-Murray Water prices from 1 July 2020.

• Goulburn-Murray Water Price Review 2020: Draft Guidance on Price Submission Under the WIRO
• Goulburn-Murray Water Price Review 2020: Final Guidance on Price Submission Under the WIRO
• Goulburn-Murray Water Price Review 2020: Guidance on Price Submission Under the WCIR

South Gippsland Water price review

In 2018, we started reviewing South Gippsland Water prices from 1 July 2020.

• South Gippsland Water's 2020 Water Price Review: Final Guidance
• South Gippsland Water's 2020 Water Price Review: Draft Guidance

Tariffs for Victorian water businesses

Each year, we produce tariff schedules for Victorian water businesses. The schedules outline the maximum prices each water business can charge their customers for specific services, such as water delivery and sewage processing.

• Goulburn-Murray Water: 2018–19 Tariff Schedule
• Melbourne Water: 2018–19 Tariff Schedule

Water customer perception survey

We survey 5,800 water customers every 12 months across 16 state-owned urban and regional water corporations on four key areas: value for money, reputation in the community, level of trust and overall satisfaction. 

• Water Customer Perception Survey Key Findings: March 2018 to February 2019
• Water Customer Perception Survey Graphs: March 2018 to February 2019
• Water Customer Perception Survey Key Findings: June 2018 to May 2019
• Water Customer Perception Survey Graphs: June 2018 to May 2019

Water performance report

We regularly produce resources on water sector performance and reporting.

• Water Performance Report 2017–18
• Water Business Profiles Supplement
• Water Performance Indicator Definitions (for 2018–19)

Western Water price review

In 2018, we started reviewing Western Water prices from 1 July 2020.

• Western Water's 2020 Water Price Review: Draft Guidance Paper
• Western Water's 2020 Water Price Review: Final Guidance Paper