- Electricity Industry Amendment (Alternative Electricity Services) Bill 2023 introduced
- Embedded network electricity supply is largely unregulated for consumers
- Bill paves the way for stronger rights for apartment and retirement village residents
The Electricity Industry Amendment (Alternative Electricity Services) Bill 2023 has been introduced to Parliament and is a step towards ensuring thousands of households and businesses on embedded networks pay a fair price and receive transparent information.
Electricity supply for embedded network customers, including apartment buildings, shopping centres, retirement villages and long-stay residential parks, is largely unregulated and customers are missing out on standard customer protections.
The Bill’s Alternative Electricity Services registration framework, to be administered by the Economic Regulation Authority, will allow fit-for-purpose and tailored customer protections.
Some initial services to be considered for regulation include the supply of electricity through embedded networks and solar power purchase arrangements.
Customers will be able to access many existing protections for traditional electricity customers, including access to the Energy and Water Ombudsman.
Energy Policy WA’s recent survey found 41 per cent, or 200 households on embedded networks, had a negative experience.
Some embedded network tenants have no access to the actual meter and end up paying whatever they are charged with no way of checking.
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As stated by Energy Minister Bill Johnston:
“Embedded networks are an important technology, especially ones that are connected to microgrids, which support Western Australia’s energy transition to net zero by 2050.
“Most people living in apartments or retirement villages are receiving irregular bills or no information on how much electricity they’re consuming.
“The Alternative Electricity Services Bill is the first step in providing more robust protections for customers purchasing electricity from non-licenced providers.”
