Review of Minimum Terms and Conditions for Retail Contracts - Requiring Prior Notice for Price Changes
Chapter 4 of the Electricity Industry Code (the Code) sets the minimum terms and conditions required for all retail electricity contracts with small market customers in Queensland.
The Authority has released its Final Decision proposing that small market customers are given prior notice of any changes to the prices applying under the market contracts they have entered into with a retailer. The Final Decision can be downloaded below.
The Authority proposed a number of amendments be made to the Electricity Industry Code to give effect to its Final Decision. These proposed amendments were forwarded to the Minister for Mines and Energy for his consideration on 22 March 2010.
The Authority’s Final Decision proposed that, in relation to small market customers, a retailer be required to provide either:
- individual written communication including the date of the price change, details of the new prices and details of how the increase will specifically affect the customer; or
- a newspaper advertisement, provided that:
- customers are notified of the date of an impending price change in a bill message prior to the change, stating when (date) and where (e.g. website and press notification) further details on the rates or variations in rates will be available;
- no less than 10 business days prior to the date of the price change, publish the new rates in a newspaper/s circulating throughout Queensland;
- no less than 10 business days prior to the date of the price change, publish the new rates on the retailer’s website; and
- full details of how the change will specifically affect the customer appear on the next bill received by the customer.
Following representations from electricity retailers, the Minister has approved all the amendments proposed by the Authority with the exception of proposed new clause 4.12.8 which noted the minimum information that would constitute the “full details” of a price change to be provided to residential customers. The Minister has instead proposed to undertake further consultation on the matter via his Energy Retailers Roundtable. The Minister’s letter can be downloaded below.
Amendments to the Electricity Industry Code consistent with the Minister’s approval were published in the Queensland Government Gazette on 7 May 2010 and to come into effect from 31 July 2010.
Minister's approval
Final Decision
Submissions in Response to Draft Decision
Draft Decision
Submissions on Consultation Notice
Consultation Notice
