Despite its name, function, and intent, our understanding is that during the market disfunction in June 2022, the Administered Price Cap did not actually cap or reduce prices. As a result, this letter, representing our submission on this rule change, makes three primary points.

Wholesale market monitoring is an essential function for a well-regulated electricity market – particularly at this point in time given the recent market suspension, rising consumer costs, and several market design changes underway. Accordingly, Energy Consumers Australia agrees with the Department on all issues raised in the Consultation.

Energy Consumers Australia encourages the Australian Energy Market Commission to reject the rule change and ensure AEMO fees are subject to the same scrutiny as other network costs.

For such non-network solutions to compete fairly with traditional network approaches requires that third-party providers have access to the same data and information that network companies have on voltage within the distribution system.

Protecting customers affected by family violence is the responsibility of us all. That’s why we commend the AEMC for strengthening the rule change proposed by Red Energy and Lumo Energy.

Our submission sees merit in a well-designed capacity mechanism but the detail of the design process and the design itself will decide whether such a mechanism works to consumers’ overall benefit. Australians expect and deserve a reliable energy system but it cannot be at the expense of having an affordable one.

Our submission to the AER on their Retailer Authorisation and Exemption Review sets out our thinking on the need for a new consumer protections framework as we transition to a distributed energy future

Energy Consumers Australia supports the Congestion Market Mechanism (CMM) and Connection Zones with Connection Fees options in the Consultation Paper because they will deliver the benefits that effective transmission access reform offers.

We do agree that there is room to improve consumer awareness and understanding of the reference price.