This report is the September 2020 update on the ACCC's inquiry into the prices, profits and margins in the supply of electricity in the National Electricity Market.

This report examines a new dataset that encompasses over 8.5 million electricity bills issued to over 1.5 million customers across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland between 1 July 2018 and 31 December 2019.

The ACCC has used this new dataset to assess the early effects of reforms to retailer pricing and advertising that came into effect on 1 July 2019. It has enabled them to examine outcomes for different residential and small and medium enterprise customer groups such as those on hardship programs or payment plans due to experiencing financial difficulties and those with solar photovoltaic systems.

The supplementary report sets out recent market developments, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on electricity use and affordability, the response of regulators and industry to the pandemic’s effects, and updates on our electricity sector monitoring and enforcement work.