The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has published a compliance check reminding retailers of their obligations to offer retail energy services to small customers.
Electricity and gas are essential services. Every small customer has a designated retailer that must offer to supply energy to their home or small business. For new connections such as building a new home it is the local area retailer. For existing connections it is a customer’s current retailer. The offer must include the option of the retailer's standing offer prices, and the terms and conditions under their standard retail contract. A designated retailer cannot refuse to sell energy to a small customer on the ground that the customer owes the retailer an outstanding amount.
This compliance check sets out the key obligations that make up a designated retailer’s obligation to offer supply.