The Australian Energy Market Commission has started consultation on a rule request from the COAG Energy Council to allow small customers with manually-read meters to transfer to a new retailer based on an estimated meter read, rather than an actual meter read. The purpose of this requested change is to reduce the time it takes customers to change to a new electricity retailer.
Stakeholders are invited to make submissions on the rule request by 9 June 2016.
A consultation paper has been prepared which seeks input on the issues the AEMC will consider in relation to this rule request, including the extent of the likely benefits to consumers of implementing the proposed changes and the likely cost to consumers.
This request, received in November 2015, flows from the AEMC’s 2014 Review of Electricity Customer Switching which found issues with the accuracy and timeliness of customer transfers. The review made six recommendations to improve specific aspects of the customer transfer process, including the recommendation in this rule request.
Consultation has also started on a separate rule request on another two of the review’s recommendations:
- to introduce an address standard for address data used when customers switch retailers
- to strengthen obligations on retailers to promptly resolve erroneous transfers.
Media: Communication Manager, Prudence Anderson 0404 821 935 or (02) 8296 7817