Energy Legislation Amendment (Victorian Default Offer) Act 2019 (Vic)
Energy Legislation Amendment (Victorian Default Offer) Act 2019
No. 6 of 2019
table of provisions
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purpose
2Commencement
Part 2—Amendment of Electricity Industry Act 2000
3Regulation of tariffs for prescribed customers
4Offer to domestic or small business customers
5Terms and conditions of contracts for sale of electricity to certain customers
Part 3—Amendment of Essential Services Commission Act 2001
6Definitions
7New section 10AAB inserted
8Right of appeal
Part 4—Amendment of Gas Industry Act 2001
9Definitions
10New section 20A inserted
11Regulation of tariffs for prescribed customers
12Offer to domestic or small business customers
13Terms and conditions of contracts for sale of gas to certain customers
Part 5—Repeal of amending Act
14Repeal of amending Act
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Endnotes
1 General information
Energy Legislation Amendment (Victorian Default Offer) Act 2019
No. 6 of 2019
[Assented to 26 March 2019]
The Parliament of Victoria enacts:
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purpose
The main purpose of this Act is to amend the Electricity Industry Act 2000, the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 and the Gas Industry Act 2001 to facilitate—
(a)reforms to energy retail contract pricing; and
(b)the introduction of a Victorian default offer providing a fair price for energy for households and small businesses.
2Commencement
This Act comes into operation on the day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Part 2—Amendment of Electricity Industry Act 2000
3Regulation of tariffs for prescribed customers
(1)In section 13(1) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000, after "Governor in Council" (where first occurring) insert ", on the recommendation of the Minister,".
(2)For section 13(1A) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 substitute—
"(1A)The Minister may make a recommendation under subsection (1)—
(a)if, under an MCE directed retail competition review, the AEMC—
(i)concludes that competition in a market for electricity is not effective; and
(ii)recommends, in accordance with the MCE's written direction for that review, that price controls on prices for retail electricity services be (as the case requires) retained or reintroduced; or
(b)if the Commission makes a recommendation in a report under section 10AAB of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 that price controls on prices for retail electricity services be (as the case requires) retained or reintroduced.
(1B)In addition, the Minister may make a recommendation under subsection (1) on the basis of any other information available to the Minister, including information made available to the Minister before the commencement of this subsection.
(1C)Before making a recommendation under subsection (1), the Minister must consult the Premier and the Treasurer.".
(3)After section 13(2) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 insert—
"(2AA)Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), an Order under that subsection may—
(a)prohibit or exclude any specified cost, matter or thing from being had regard to by the Commission in making a decision, including a price determination, in respect of any tariff for the sale of electricity to prescribed customers or a class of prescribed customers; and
(b)regulate the offer, or the giving, of a discount or other benefit to prescribed customers or a class of prescribed customers, including—
(i)the maximum amount or value of a discount or other benefit that may be offered or given to prescribed customers or a class of prescribed customers; and
(ii)the periods when a discount or other benefit may be offered or given to prescribed customers or a class of prescribed customers.".
(4)In section 13(2A) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000—
(a)after "tariffs" (where secondly occurring) insert "paid or";
(b)omit "during the review period".
(5)For section 13(3) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 substitute—
"(3)An Order under subsection (1) may—
(a)direct the Commission to make a decision, including a price determination, in respect of any factors and matters, or in accordance with any procedures, matters or bases, that are specified in the Order; and
(b)direct the Commission to make amendments to any instrument made by the Commission to give effect to any matter specified in the Order; and
(c)confer powers and functions on, and leave any matter to be decided by, the Commission; and
(d)include saving and transitional provisions.
(3A)An Order under subsection (1) may—
(a)be of general or limited application;
(b)differ according to differences in time, place and circumstances.
(3B)An Order under subsection (1) has effect according to its tenor despite anything to the contrary in any agreement or contract.".
(6)In section 13(4A) of the Electricity Industry Act2000, for "Sections 53 and 54" substitute "Divisions 1 and 2 of Part 7".
(7)In section 13(6) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000—
(a)in the definition of prescribed customer, for "applies." substitute "applies;";
(b)insert the following definition—
"price determination means a determination under section 33 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001.";
(c)the definition of review period is repealed.
4Offer to domestic or small business customers
(1)In section 35(1) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000, after "section 13" insert "or a price determination in force under such an Order".
(2)In section 35(3) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000, after "(3G)" insert "and to any Order in force under section 13 or a price determination in force under such an Order".
(3)For section 35(3A) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 substitute—
"(3A)Subject to subsection (3AB), a licensee must not vary tariffs under subsection (3) that have been in effect for less than—
(a)the period (not exceeding 12 months) determined by the Commission; or
(b)if no period is determined under paragraph (a)—6 months.
(3AB)Subsection (3A) does not apply if—
(a)the variation is necessary to comply with an Order in force under section 13 or a price determination in force under such an Order; or
(b)the Commission, being satisfied that there are special circumstances, exempts the licensee from compliance with that subsection.".
(4)Insert the following definition in section 35(8) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000—
"price determination means a determination under section 33 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001;".
5Terms and conditions of contracts for sale of electricity to certain customers
After section 36(1)(a)(iii) of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 insert—
"(iiia)specify the circumstances in which the licensee may, or must not, offer or give a discount or other benefit to a relevant customer, including—
(A)the maximum amount or value of a discount or other benefit that may be offered or given to a relevant customer; and
(B)the periods when a discount or other benefit may be offered or given to a relevant customer; and
(iiib)specify a period during which the licensee must not vary the tariffs applying under the contract unless exempted to do so by the Commission; and".
Part 3—Amendment of Essential Services Commission Act 2001
6Definitions
In section 3 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001, in the definition of empowering instrument, after paragraph (c) insert—
"(ca)any Order made under section 21 of the Gas Industry Act 2001; or".
7New section 10AAB inserted
After section 10AA of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 insert—
"10AAB Commission's functions in relation to the retail energy market
Without limiting section 10(a), the Electricity Industry Act 2000 or the Gas Industry Act 2001, the functions oftheCommission under this Act includetomonitor and report on the competitiveness and efficiency of the Victorian retail markets for electricity andgas.".
8Right of appeal
For section 55(1)(c) of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 substitute—
"(c)a determination of the Commission, other than a price determination under section 33 in respect of—
(i)tariffs for the sale of electricity regulated by Order under section 13 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000; or
(ii)tariffs for the sale of gas regulated by Order under section 21 of the GasIndustry Act 2001; or".
Part 4—Amendment of Gas Industry Act 2001
9Definitions
In section 3 of the Gas Industry Act 2001, in the definition of Tariff Order, paragraph (a) is repealed.
10New section 20A inserted
After section 20 of the Gas Industry Act 2001 insert—
"20A Powers in relation to price regulation
For the purposes of Part 3 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001, the power to regulate prescribed prices in respect of prescribed goods and services is conferred on the Commission in respect of tariffs for the sale of gas regulated by Order under section 21, to the extent specified in such an Order.".
11Regulation of tariffs for prescribed customers
(1)In section 21(1) of the Gas Industry Act 2001, after "Governor in Council" (where first occurring) insert ", on the recommendation of the Minister,".
(2)For section 21(1A) of the Gas Industry Act 2001 substitute—
"(1A)The Minister may make a recommendation under subsection (1)—
(a)if, under an MCE directed retail competition review, the AEMC—
(i)concludes that competition in a market for gas is not effective; and
(ii)recommends, in accordance with the MCE's written direction for that review, that price controls on prices for retail gas services be (as the case requires) retained or reintroduced; or
(b)if the Commission makes a recommendation in a report under section 10AAB of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 that price controls on prices for retail gas services be (as the case requires) retained or reintroduced.
(1B)In addition, the Minister may make a recommendation under subsection (1) on the basis of any other information available to the Minister, including information made available to the Minister before the commencement of this subsection.
(1C)Before making a recommendation under subsection (1), the Minister must consult the Premier and the Treasurer.".
(3)After section 21(2) of the Gas Industry Act 2001 insert—
"(2AA)Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), an Order under that subsection may—
(a)prohibit or exclude any specified cost, matter or thing from being had regard to by the Commission in making a decision, including a price determination, in respect of any tariff for the sale of gas to prescribed customers or a class of prescribed customers; and
(b)regulate the offer, or the giving, of a discount or other benefit to prescribed customers or a class of prescribed customers, including—
(i)the maximum amount or value of a discount or other benefit that may be offered or given to prescribed customers or a class of prescribed customers; and
(ii)the periods when a discount or other benefit may be offered or given to prescribed customers or a class of prescribed customers.".
(4)In section 21(2A) of the Gas Industry Act2001—
(a)after "tariffs" (where secondly occurring) insert "paid or";
(b)omit "during the review period".
(5)For section 21(3) of the Gas Industry Act 2001 substitute—
"(3)An Order under subsection (1) may—
(a)direct the Commission to make a decision, including a price determination, in respect of any factors and matters, or in accordance with any procedures, matters or bases, that are specified in the Order; and
(b)direct the Commission to make amendments to any instrument made by the Commission to give effect to any matter specified in the Order; and
(c)confer powers and functions on, and leave any matter to be decided by, the Commission; and
(d)include saving and transitional provisions.
(3A)An Order under subsection (1) may—
(a)be of general or limited application;
(b)differ according to differences in time, place and circumstances.
(3B)An Order under subsection (1) has effect according to its tenor despite anything to the contrary in any agreement or contract.".
(6)In section 21(4A) of the Gas Industry Act 2001, for "Sections 53 and 54" substitute "Divisions 1 and 2 of Part 7".
(7)In section 21(6) of the Gas Industry Act 2001—
(a)insert the following definition—
"price determination means a determination under section 33 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001.";
(b)the definition of review period is repealed.
12Offer to domestic or small business customers
(1)In section 42(1) of the Gas Industry Act 2001, after "section 21" insert "or a price determination in force under such an Order".
(2)In section 42(3) of the Gas Industry Act 2001, after "(3G)" insert "and to any Order in force under section 21 or a price determination in force under such an Order".
(3)For section 42(3A) of the Gas Industry Act 2001 substitute—
"(3A)Subject to subsection (3AB), a licensee must not vary tariffs under subsection (3) that have been in effect for less than—
(a)the period (not exceeding 12 months) determined by the Commission; or
(b)if no period is determined under paragraph (a)—6 months.
(3AB)Subsection (3A) does not apply if—
(a)the variation is necessary to comply with an Order in force under section 21 or a price determination in force under such an Order; or
(b)the Commission, being satisfied that there are special circumstances, exempts the licensee from compliance with that subsection.".
(4)Insert the following definition in section 42(8) of the Gas Industry Act 2001—
"price determination means a determination under section 33 of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001;".
13Terms and conditions of contracts for sale of gas to certain customers
After section 43(1)(a)(iii) of the Gas Industry Act 2001 insert—
"(iiia)specify the circumstances in which the licensee may, or must not, offer or give a discount or other benefit to a relevant customer, including—
(A)the maximum amount or value of a discount or other benefit that may be offered or given to a relevant customer; and
(B)the periods when a discount or other benefit may be offered or given to a relevant customer; and
(iiib)specify a period during which the licensee must not vary the tariffs applying under the contract unless exempted to do so by the Commission; and".
Part 5—Repeal of amending Act
14Repeal of amending Act
This Act is repealed on the first anniversary of the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Note
The repeal of this Act does not affect the continuing operation of the amendments made by it (see section 15(1)
of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984).
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Endnotes
1 General information
See for Victorian Bills, Acts and current authorised versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.
Minister's second reading speech—
Legislative Assembly: 20 February 2019
Legislative Council: 7 March 2019
The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill for an Act to amend the Electricity Industry Act 2000, the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 and the Gas Industry Act 2001 to facilitate reforms to energy retail contract pricing and the introduction of a Victorian default offer providing a fair price for energy for households and small businesses and for other purposes."
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