We appreciate the opportunity to make a submission on the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) proposal to change the rules to allow network charges to be deferred.

Energy Consumers Australia supports the proposed rule change in principle, as a mechanism that underpins the AER’s Statement of Expectations. Helping consumers manage their energy bills is an important part of the overall response to help Australian families and businesses ride out the economic shock and rebuild on the other side. We welcomed the initiative of the AER in publishing its Statement of Expectations in response to the economic consequences of the health crisis.

In the initial days of the lockdown in March 2020, we commissioned Finncorn to provide advice on consumer support mechanisms, assessing alternative measures against four criteria: scalability; speed; flexibility; and equitability.

The full submission and supplementary advice are available on this page.