Energy

East coast gas market conditions have eased, but more gas required to lower prices

While conditions in the east coast gas market have eased considerably since the extremes reported in 2017, only action by governments and the gas industry to increase domestic gas supply can bring material price reductions into the future, according to the July 2018 Gas Inquiry Interim Report released by the ACCC today.

Based on current projections for the supply-demand balance, there will likely be sufficient gas in 2019 to meet demand.

Gas inquiry July 2018 interim report

This is the fourth interim report of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) inquiry into gas supply arrangements in Australia. The ACCC has continued its focus on the operation of the East Coast Gas Market, where there are immediate and longer-term concerns.

July 2018 interim report

On 2 August 2018, the ACCC released its fourth interim report as part of its inquiry into Australia’s wholesale gas supply arrangements. The report continues the ACCC's focus on the operation of the East Coast Gas Market, where there are immediate and longer-term concerns.

ACCC releases blueprint to reduce electricity prices

The ACCC’s recommendations to significantly improve electricity affordability for Australian consumers and businesses are outlined in its final Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry report, released today.

The Inquiry, which commenced in March 2017, began by identifying the root causes of high electricity prices across the entire electricity supply chain, and has now made 56 recommendations detailing ways to fix the National Electricity Market.

The National Energy Market

An overview of the decisions that have led to the current problems and proposed solutions to address them.

ACCC takes action against Click Energy for misleading savings claims

The ACCC has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Amaysim Energy Pty Ltd (trading as Click Energy) alleging it made false or misleading marketing claims about discounts and savings that Victorian and Queensland customers could obtain, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

From around October 2017 to March 2018, Click Energy represented to consumers in Victoria and Queensland that under its market energy offers, they could get discounts of between 7 and 29 per cent off Click Energy’s energy charges if they paid their bills on time.

C&I users need affordable energy

ACCC Chairman Rod Sims delivered an address to the Energy Users Association of Australia’s (EUAA) 2018 National Conference today, highlighting the current state of Australia’s electricity and gas markets.

“In Australia, the matters surrounding energy are some of our defining economic challenges for the 21st century,” Mr Sims said.