On 22 March 2016, the Australian Energy Regulator’s Customer Consultative Group (CCG) held its first meeting for 2016.
The CCG Chair, Mr Jim Cox, discussed the AER’s current work program including the public consultation on our Sustainable payment plans framework and recent compliance activity.
The agenda included items on; the Australian Competition Tribunal’s decisions on the limited merits review of the AER’s April and June 2015 electricity and gas revenue decisions in NSW and the ACT; new energy products and services and the challenges they present to consumer protection; and performance and compliance in retail energy markets.
Background
The CCG is established under the National Energy Retail Rules and provides advice to the AER in relation to its functions under the energy laws affecting energy consumers across participating jurisdictions. The CCG meets up to three times a year and has eleven members — Consumer Action Law Centre, Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, COTA Australia, Energy Consumers Australia, Ethnic Communities Council of NSW, National Retail Association, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Queensland Council of Social Service, St Vincent de Paul Society, Tasmanian Council of Social Service and Uniting Communities.