On 3 March 2015, the Australian Energy Regulator’s Customer Consultative Group (CCG) held its first meeting for 2015. The AER Chair, Ms Paula Conboy, discussed the AER’s work program in 2015, including the assessment of network businesses’ revenue proposals, and the AER’s work in the retail energy sector. The meeting also featured presentations and discussion on a range of topics relevant to energy customers, including the AER’s review of energy retailers’ customer hardship policies, proposed amendements to the AER's Retail Pricing Information Guideline and an update on recent compliance and enforcement activities.
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 twelve members—Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, Consumer Action Law Centre, Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, Council of Small Business Australia, COTA 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.