ACCC issues final determination on B2B Electricity Code changes

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued its final determination on changes to the National Electricity Code relating to business to business (B2B) communications.

"The Code changes allow for the implementation of improved B2B electricity governance arrangements", an ACCC Commissioner, Mr Ed Willett, said. "This will further enhance full retail competition by enabling retailers and distributors to exchange information more easily and efficiently.

"An increasing volume of information relating to customer transfers and billing is exchanged daily between retailers and distributors. The current procedures involve manual processes such as telephone, email, and manual file transfers. Further, there are different arrangements between the various jurisdictions in the National Electricity Market.

"Industry is supportive of the new arrangements which provide for the standardisation and automation of B2B activity across the National Electricity Market.  A new central B2B electronic Hub will be created to handle all the relevant customer and site information".

The final determination will be made available on the ACCC's website (see below).