The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has made new rules to make it easier for consumers to get information about their electricity consumption from distribution network companies and retailers in an easy-to-understand, affordable and timely way.
Information to be made available by retailers and distribution network companies on request includes the customer’s metering data and the data used to calculate consumer bills.
This information could be used by consumers to better understand their current electricity use. It would make it easier for people to choose new products or services such as time-delay appliances which can be used when electricity is cheaper.
Consumers might choose to provide this information to energy service providers who would then be able to compete with retailers to offer innovative products and services to consumers.
The Commission’s new rules were made in response to a request from the COAG Energy Council. It is the first rule in a suite of market changes that will implement the AEMC’s Power of Choice reforms to enable better and more informed consumer choices.
Submissions made to the Power of Choice Review suggested that most residential consumers don’t have adequate information about the costs of their consumption (eg on running air conditioners) or the appropriate enabling metering technology that would show their usage profile.
The Power of Choice review identified the necessary arrangements to give consumers the information, education, incentives and tools that they need to efficiently manage their electricity use. Consumers are in the best position to decide what action is right for them. Together, the Power of Choice reforms provide tools that consumers can use to choose how they use electricity and to manage their spending.
The new rules are another step forward in the establishment of a competitive market for services enabled by smart meters.
The new rules:
- allow customers to request access to their electricity consumption data from a distribution network service provider, in addition to a retailer;
- allow parties authorised by customers to access their electricity consumption data; and
- require retailers and distribution network service providers to comply with minimum requirements relating to format, time frames and costs when a customer, or a party authorised by that customer, requests their electricity consumption data.
For more information contact:
AEMC Chairman, John Pierce, (02) 8296 7800
Media Contact: Prudence Anderson, Communications Manager (0404) 821 935
or DL (02) 8296 7817