The Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) has released its final decision for ATCO Gas Australia’s revised access arrangement for the mid-west and south-west gas distribution systems. ATCO owns and operates the gas distribution systems, which service around 750,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Geraldton, Bunbury, Busselton, Harvey, Pinjarra, Brunswick Junction, Capel, Mandurah and the Perth greater metropolitan area. Under the […]
Retail
SA Water puts four-year plan to regulator
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Company news, News, Policy, Retail, Spotlight, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability, Water 0SA Water has put forward its next four-year plan to the independent economic regulator. Our Plan outlines how the utility will deliver reliable water and sewerage essentials, and implement new initiatives to benefit customers. The Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) has already begun public consultation as part of its process to review the 2020-24 plan to ensure it […]
Smart water meters for Logan residents
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Condition Assessment, Digital Utilities, News, Retail, Smart meters, Spotlight, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability, Water 0Smart metering technology has been introduced in Bannockburn, with residents among the first in Logan to have their water use tracked with the technology. Smart water meters are replacing 20mm mechanical meters at select locations across Logan, and new data loggers are being attached to larger meters. The devices allow real-time monitoring of water use and assist with leak detection. […]
Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW: thoughts on our Annual Report
Charlotte Pordage Company news, Electricity, News, Retail, Stakeholder Engagement, Water 0by Janine Young, Ombudsman, Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW Twenty-one years ago the corporatisation of the electricity sector led to the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) being officially launched. What’s changed since then? In 1998, five staff handled 180 complaints about seven providers. Today, 80 staff manage over 26,000 complaints annually from over 110 energy and water providers. Customers […]
Momentum Energy apologises for concession payment breaches
Charlotte Pordage Electricity, News, Retail 0Momentum Energy has apologised for mistakes which led to some customers not receiving their concession payments and resulted in the Essential Services Commission (ESC) issuing penalty notices totalling $900,000. The ESC has issued 60 penalty notices of $15,000 each in relation to Momentum Energy failing to notify customers within ten business days of becoming aware that it had overcharged these […]
Australian energy companies take big step in putting customers first
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Company news, Digital Utilities, Electricity, News, Retail, Spotlight, Stakeholder Engagement 0October 2019 marks a significant milestone for the Australian energy industry. For the first time, Australians can gain unique insights into improvements by generators, transmission companies, distributors and retailers to provide better services and to put their customers first. Formed in January 2019, the Energy Charter is a CEO-led initiative of 18 Australian energy companies. This is the first time […]
South Australians to save on energy
Charlotte Pordage Digital Utilities, Electricity, News, Retail, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability 0The South Australian Government has welcomed the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) draft determination on SA Power Networks charges, showing additional savings of $63 per year for the average household from as early as 2020. The draft determination covers the regulatory period from 2020-2025, and shows that in 2020, small businesses could also save $283 in network distribution charges. Minister for […]
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has found that access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is improving, according to a new report released in September. The Inquiry into the National Electricity Market – August 2019 report is the second in the ACCC’s ongoing inquiry into the National Electricity Market. The report welcomes the introduction of the Retail Electricity […]
AGL launches new electric vehicle offer for customers
Journalist Digital Utilities, Electricity, News, Policy, Projects, Retail 0AGL has launched a new offer for owners of electric vehicles (EV), accelerating its move into the growing electric vehicle (EV) market. AGL Chief Customer Officer, Christine Corbett, said the new electricity plan would provide eligible customers with bonus credits over the two year period of the plan. “This new plan allows our customers to make the most of their […]
ACCC report emphasises the need for gas production and development
Journalist Gas, News, Pipelines, Retail 0The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released its seventh Gas Inquiry Report, highlighting that although the east coast gas market is unlikely to experience a shortfall in 2020, supply remains tight and more development and production is needed. The ACCC has found that a gas supply shortfall in the east coast gas market in 2020 is less likely […]
What do Sydney Water, AGL, Endeavour Energy, Hydro Tasmania and Energy Queensland all have in common?
Charlotte Pordage Digital Utilities, News, Retail 0These utility heavyweights are all presenting at the SAUG National Summit in Sydney on 26-27 August 2019; sharing their experience with digital transformation, cloud, data governance, customer experience, the experience economy and more. Utility magazine readers receive a discount to the SAUG National Summit 2019, held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. This is the flagship event of the SAP […]
While competition in the retail energy sector continues to evolve, energy retailers are faced with the challenge of restoring consumer confidence and trust in the market. Amy Childs, Managing Director of Momentum Energy, is the first person to put her hand up and acknowledge that the sector needs to change, and she is working hard to improve the way customers […]
Customers $6 billion better off with incentive-based energy schemes
Journalist Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Retail 0A new report released by Energy Networks Australia has highlighted how Australia’s incentive-based energy regulation schemes are delivering more than $6 billion of benefits to customers. The Rewarding Performance: How Customers Benefit from Incentive-based Regulation report, released in Brisbane as part of Energy Networks Australia’s Regulation Seminar 2019, is the first comprehensive analysis of the schemes’ performance. Energy Networks Australia […]
Digital water meters — for customers, it’s starting to get personal
Charlotte Pordage Asset management, Condition Assessment, Digital Utilities, Retail, Smart meters, Water 0For the Griffith University researchers examining the benefits of digital water meters, their work became personal when one of them recently received a high usage letter from their water business following their quarterly meter reading. An early leak alert from a digital meter would have saved most of the 92kL above normal usage, and the cost of $360 for water […]
Under a new pricing proposal from energy infrastructure company, Jemena, gas distribution charges for NSW residential customers could be slashed by an average of $244 over the next five years, easing the strain of rising wholesale gas prices. Releasing its five year pricing proposal for the New South Wales gas network, Jemena’s plan also proposes reducing gas prices for New […]
Ausgrid reduces network charge on customers electricity bills
Journalist Electricity, News, Policy, Retail 0Ausgrid has announced it is reducing the network charge on customer’s electricity bills from 1 July 2019 to help households save money on their energy costs. The network charge, the portion of Ausgrid customer’s bill which covers the maintenance of electricity poles and wires, will fall $71 or eleven per cent for the average residential customer. Ausgrid CEO, Richard Gross, […]
Solar homes rolling out to even more Victorians
Journalist Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Policy, Projects, Renewable Energy, Retail, Solar 0The Victorian Government has announced that the next phase of rebates for solar panels, batteries and hot water systems will be available from 1 July 2019, as part of the Solar Homes program. The $1.3 billion Solar Homes program will see 770,000 Victorian households take advantage of solar power over the next decade, with 5,500 new jobs created as the […]
Energy retailers in South East Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia will soon have to comply with a new Electricity Retail Code. The new obligations for retailers will kick off from 1 July 2019 and will see energy retailers change the way they advertise electricity plans to ensure that it is easier for consumers to compare prices and offers. […]
Customers harness the power of solar with AGL Virtual Power Plant
Journalist Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Retail, Solar, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability 0AGL has released details about a new residential battery program that will allow customers to reap rewards from their solar battery systems, with credits of up to $280 a year on their electricity bill. AGL CEO, Brett Redman, announced that after the successful trial of its Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technology in Adelaide, AGL would launch a new broader VPP. […]
Powercor program saves residents power and money
Journalist Batteries & Storage, Electricity, Renewable Energy, Retail, Solar, Sustainability 0A new program from Powercor has saved more than 1000 Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula residents a combined total of $50,000, while helping reduce energy demand on the local network on hot summer days. Energy Partner – a demand management program conducted between 1 December 2018 and 31 March 2019 – financially rewarded households for reducing their electricity use on […]
Queensland Urban Utilities releases pricing for 2019/20
Journalist Retail, Utility location, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Queensland Urban Utilities has announced its component in the average residential water and sewerage bill—based on a water usage of 150kl per year—in Brisbane will increase in 2019/20. Water and sewerage bills will increase by 2.5 per cent or $5.44 per quarter in 2019/20 (42c per week). This does not include the State Bulk Water Charge, which is set and […]
What the 2019 election results mean for the utility industry
Journalist Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Electricity, Gas, News, Pipelines, Projects, Renewable Energy, Retail, Solar, Spotlight, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The 2019 federal election results are in, with Labor conceding defeat and the Liberal National Coalition forming a majority government. With climate change and rising energy prices among the most fiercely debated issues during the campaign, what exactly do the election results mean for the utility industry? The majority of policies promoted by the Liberal Party in the lead up […]
Asset-intensive sectors primed for change
Charlotte Pordage Big Data, Digital Utilities, IOT, Retail, Sponsored Editorial, Telecommunications 0Why asset-intensive sectors have been slow to upgrade enterprise capability and how they will benefit. by Brian Devlin, Industry Director, TechnologyOne While sitting further behind other industry sectors when it comes to uptake of new technologies, a staggering 80 per cent of Australasian utilities, water, ports and airports organisations surveyed intend to replace or adopt new enterprise solutions within the next […]
Creating new, connected consumer experiences in the Australian energy sector
Lauren Butler Digital Utilities, Electricity, Features, Retail 0By Simon Vardy, Accenture’s strategy lead for utilities in Australia and New Zealand. With energy a front-page issue in Australia for years, being wrapped up in public policy debate, consumer trust in the industry has never been lower. In fact, the Australian Energy Market Commission found that only 37 per cent of consumers trusted the industry, with most surveyed believing […]
Digital data pays off for energy savvy families
Chris Bland Digital Utilities, Electricity, Features, Retail, Smart meters 0Giving people access to technology that would otherwise be out of their reach can be a powerful tool for change. Just ask the Skinners, who have made significant savings on their power bills since joining the Energy Savvy Families program. “It’s good for those who struggle with their electricity bills because it heightens your general awareness about your electricity use […]
Australian utility wins Global Water Award
Charlotte Pordage Company news, Condition Assessment, Digital Utilities, IOT, News, Retail, Spotlight, Water 0Sydney Water’s Customer Hub has taken out a Global Water Award for 2019 Smart Water Project of the Year, following on from its achievement as the Australian 2019 Digital Utility of the Year – Water. The Smart Water Project of the Year award recognised the project that most effectively harnessed digital solutions to achieve excellence in water or wastewater management in […]
A total of 83 advanced prepayment meters have been installed across eleven Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley, Mid-West and Goldfields regions, accompanied by an app that allows customers to purchase power from the comfort of their home. Prior to the prepayment meters, residents would have to contribute to pay one community bill regardless of how much power each house used. […]
The Labor Government’s climate change plan has been both welcomed and questioned, with some concerns raised about an affordable transition to clean energy for those experiencing financial hardship. According to the CEO of the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS), Cassandra Goldie, “Climate change hits people living on low-incomes or experiencing disadvantage first and hardest, and failing to act will […]
Online retailer, Catch Group, has expanded its services with the announcement of an Australian energy group called Catch Energy, which will provide competitively priced energy and gas plans in partnership with 1st Energy. CEO of Catch Group, Nati Harpaz, stated that the company is looking forward to taking aim at the major energy retailers and helping Australians get the best […]
New rules for customers experiencing financial hardship
Charlotte Pordage Electricity, News, Retail 0The release of the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) Customer Hardship Policy Guideline on 29 March has been welcomed by the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON). “The Guideline is a positive step in improving energy retailer support for customers experiencing energy affordability issues,” Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW, Janine Young, said. In submissions to the AER and Australian Energy Market […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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