The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has reviewed the recent offers of electricity contracts made by AGL to South Australian contestable customers.
This followed requests by the S.A. Independent Industry Regulator and the Premier of South Australia to consider the matter.
Extensive inquiries have been made and information has been provided by participants in the electricity industry in South Australia, including AGL and other retailers licensed to supply contestable customers in the State.
After careful consideration the ACCC believes that the available information does not indicate that, in its dealings with the contestable customers, AGL has engaged in conduct in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974. In particular, the available information does not indicate that AGL has acted unconscionably or misused its market power.
"The ACCC appreciates that business consumers in South Australia are facing significant increases in their bills under electricity contracts compared to their costs for electricity under the regulated tariffs which applied to 30 June 2001", ACCC Commissioner on energy matters, Mr Rod Shogren, said today. "However, there is no evidence indicating that AGL has engaged in conduct in breach of the law. Consequently, the ACCC has no further role in relation to this matter at this stage".