Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) supports the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)'s draft determination to improve clarity for households and small businesses seeking to cease gas use, including definitions and stronger information requirements for customer-initiated gas abolishment services. We also support the AEMC’s decision not to regulate disconnection services, recognising the importance of maintaining lower cost options for consumers.
However, the draft determination provides limited clarity for consumers who “quiet quit” gas by terminating their gas retail contract after ceasing gas use and for consumers who have already terminated, but later want to permanently abolish.
Without clearer information about retail contract termination and what happens next, consumers may face uncertainty about billing, liability, and safety. We also consider that governments, regulators, and distributors are better placed to assess the long system-level safety and planning issues than individual households and small businesses.
Our key recommendations are:
- Clarify the implications of all gas exit pathways, so consumers can make informed choices and understand clearly what happens next
- Remove barriers requiring consumers to re-establish a gas retail contract solely to request permanent abolishment, so that consumers can pursue abolishment more efficiently.
