- Consultation open on proposed embedded network services and on-site power supply arrangements regulation
- Embedded network operators invited to participate in voluntary code
- New framework to ensure all electricity customers have standard protections
The State Government wants all electricity customers to have protected rights with consultation now open on services that may be covered by the new Alternative Electricity Services registration framework.
The consultation seeks input on rights and protections that should apply for customers in embedded networks, such as:
- apartment buildings;
- shopping centres;
- retirement villages; and
- long-stay residential parks.
It also wants people to have their say on the regulation of on-site power supply arrangements, in which a service provider owns and maintains solar panels or a battery at a customer’s premises and that customer gets to use energy from the system.
The AES framework will be established by the passage of the Electricity Industry Amendment (Alternative Electricity Services) Bill 2023, which is currently before Parliament.
This legislation will help ensure thousands of households and businesses not currently supplied by a licensed service provider pay a fair price and get transparent information about their electricity supply.
The framework enables a flexible approach to regulation allowing tailored and fit-for-purpose customer protections to be applied to each regulated service.
Under the new framework, customers can be given access to many of the protections already in place for traditional electricity customers, including access to independent dispute resolution through the Energy and Water Ombudsman.
Embedded network operators are also now invited to register for a voluntary period to test and refine proposed code obligations.
The Voluntary Embedded Networks Code of Practice is non-binding and by signing up, embedded network operators can help shape the future of embedded network regulation in Western Australia.
To learn more, register for online information sessions, and have your say on the Sharing the Power campaign, visit: www.wa.gov.au/sharingthepower.
As stated by Energy Minister Reece Whitby:
“Most electricity consumers purchase electricity from a licensed retailer and benefit from a comprehensive set of customer protections overseen by the Economic Regulation Authority.
“The Cook Government wants to extend these protections to emerging electricity services like embedded networks through the Alternative Electricity Services framework.
“I encourage all interested Western Australians to share their feedback on these important reforms.”
