Essential Services Commission

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Essential Services Commission An independent regulator that promotes the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services.

The Essential Services Commission is Victoria’s independent economic regulator that promotes the long term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services. We regulate Victoria’s energy, water and transport sectors, and administer the rate-capping system for the local government sector. We also regulate the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gases by making energy efficiency improvements more affordable for consumers.

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands and waterways on which we work and live. We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. As the First Peoples of this land, belonging to the world’s oldest living cultures, we recognise and value their knowledge, and ongoing role in shaping and enriching the story of Victoria.

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The Essential Services Commission has a social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube to provide information about our work and engage with the community. It is important that our online environments are safe, respectful and constructive places, and remain welcoming and useful to the community. We will not tolerate disrespectful, offensive, crude, hateful or irrelevant comments, or comments that make another person feel unsafe. For more information, please refer to our social media guidelines at https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-policies/our-social-media-guidelines

Consultation has now closed on our proposed approach to fulfilling our new role in reviewing major infrastructure projec...
18/10/2026

Consultation has now closed on our proposed approach to fulfilling our new role in reviewing major infrastructure projects at the Port of Melbourne. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback.

Our new role is set out in proposed changes to our Statement of Regulatory Approach and explains:

-how we will assess project applications
-what information the port should provide
-how approved projects will be monitored.

We are now reviewing all feedback received and will publish the final statement later this year.

For more information, visit our website: https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/media-centre/regulator-seeks-feedback-guidance-reviewing-port-melbourne-infrastructure-projects

Greater Western Water has requested a 12-month delay in setting new maximum prices so it has more time to engage with cu...
13/10/2026

Greater Western Water has requested a 12-month delay in setting new maximum prices so it has more time to engage with customers to help inform its future pricing.

In assessing this request, we will consider whether the delay is in the long-term interests of Victorian consumers and Greater Western water customers in particular.

We want to hear from you before making a decision. Head to Engage Victoria to have your say by 5pm, Monday 23 November 2026.

If this request is approved, Greater Western Water would keep its maximum prices for an extra year. Prices would still be adjusted annually, but customers would not move to new maximum prices until 1 July 2029.

More information: https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/media-centre/commission-seeks-feedback-greater-western-waters-request-delay-setting-new-prices

Thank you Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic) Victoria for the opportunity to contribute to your 2026 conference.Our ...
09/10/2026

Thank you Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic) Victoria for the opportunity to contribute to your 2026 conference.

Our Chairperson, Gerard Brody facilitated a panel discussion on how advocacy, accountability, culture shift and persistence have helped drive fairer outcomes in essential services. We also had staff on hand to hear from financial counsellors and answer their questions.

‘Getting to Fair: Advancing Equity’ outlines our approach to fairer access to essential services for all Victorians.

Read more: https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/other-work/getting-fair-advancing-equity-strategy

Eligible Victorian households can now choose to sign-up to the Midday Power Saver offer. The Victorian Government manda...
01/10/2026

Eligible Victorian households can now choose to sign-up to the Midday Power Saver offer.

The Victorian Government mandated offer is designed for customers who can save money by changing when they consume electricity, by providing households with a window of free electricity use between 11am and 2pm every day.

If you’re not sure if the offer is right for you, you can contact your energy retailer who must give you clear information about the offer.

To compare electricity offers that suit your circumstances, including how the Midday Power Saver compares with other offers available in the market, visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au.

Read more: https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/electricity-and-gas-prices-tariffs-and-benchmarks/victorian-midday-power-saver

New energy rules are now in place to help Victorian households stay connected and access better energy plans.From today,...
30/09/2026

New energy rules are now in place to help Victorian households stay connected and access better energy plans.

From today, the minimum debt a consumer can be disconnected for increases from $300 to $1,000, and retailers must:
- move customers onto their cheapest plan if they are receiving payment difficulty support, or have been in debt for more than three months and owe more than $1,000
- make it easy for customers to switch to their best offer, by providing clear and accessible information
- offer payment methods other than direct debit for each plan.

Retailers will only be able to switch or encourage customers to switch to their best offer if it is expected to save them at least $50 a year compared with their current plan, up from $22.

Read more: https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/media-centre/new-energy-rules-help-victorians-stay-connected

From every corner of Melbourne, to Bendigo and Ballarat, our inspectors have been checking that ceiling insulation insta...
23/09/2026

From every corner of Melbourne, to Bendigo and Ballarat, our inspectors have been checking that ceiling insulation installations meet quality, safety and other Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program requirements.

These specialised insulation inspections are part of our work with Solar Victoria, Energy Safe Victoria and WorkSafe to safely roll out the new VEU ceiling insulation activity in community and public housing. The activity will expand to all eligible Victorian homes from 1 October.

We’re doing more VEU inspections than ever this year and will continue to take strong action against businesses that break the rules. Cutting corners or claiming work that hasn’t been done properly isn’t worth the risk.

This work supports our broader compliance and enforcement efforts to protect consumers and strengthen trust, transparency and accountability in the VEU program.

Address

570 Bourke Street
Melbourne, VIC
3000

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