The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is consulting on a rule change request from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to remove the requirement that they develop electricity consumption benchmarks that are no longer required on bills.

The AER is currently required to publish information about average electricity consumption for various household sizes every three years, to make it easier for retailers to provide benchmarks on energy bills to their energy customers.

As at 30 September 2023, retailers will no longer be required to include benchmarks on energy bills, when the AER’s Better Bills Guideline is implemented.

While benchmarks were initially introduced to support consumers to make energy efficient decisions, the AER decided when establishing the Better Bills Guideline that requiring retailers to include benchmarks on bills no longer brought value to customers in the evolving energy market.

The AER is proposing that they not be required to develop benchmarks from late 2023 onward, on the basis that the benchmarks are no longer used.

The AEMC has published a consultation paper and is seeking feedback on whether to remove the obligation on the AER to develop bill benchmarks.

An expedited process is being used for this rule change, which includes one round of consultation.

Stakeholders have until 6 July 2023 to object to the expedited process, and 20 July 2023 to provide their written submissions in response to the consultation paper.

Visit the project page to read more or provide feedback.

Media: Nicole Stokes: 0401 826 522 or media@aemc.gov.au