Energy Consumers Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide comments on the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) The future of embedded networks in NSW Draft Report.

As the national voice for residential and small business energy users, Energy Consumers Australia advocates for a future Australian energy system that works for, and benefits, the households and small businesses who use it. This includes the diverse range of consumers who find themselves living and working within embedded networks. People living in apartment blocks, retirement villages, caravans parks, social housing, and small businesses operating in shopping centres and office blocks are just some of the consumer types that receive their energy under embedded network arrangements. IPART’s review is an important first step in ensuring these consumers have access to protections that are equivalent to consumers in the competitive retail energy market.

Our submission makes three key points;

1. We support the proposed pricing methodology outlined in the draft report in principle.
2. Consumers living and working within embedded networks should receive protections equivalent to on-market customers.
3. Setting a maximum price, is a first step in addressing the various challenges embedded network customers experience.

Read our submission here.