The Victorian government has requested the Essential Services Commission to give effect to recommendation 8A from the Independent review into the electricity and gas retail markets in Victoria, which requires the commission to monitor and report on the competitiveness and efficiency of the Victorian retail energy market.

In consultation with interested stakeholders and the public, the Essential Services Commission has developed a framework and approach to help assess whether the Victorian energy retail market is delivering good value to energy consumers.

The Victorian energy market report looks into the performance of the market when it comes to the retail energy prices customers are paying, the level of service from energy businesses, and the experience of customers facing or anticipating payment difficulty.

The Essential Services Commission researched customer experiences following regulatory reforms to the energy market.

This report provides insights on the impact of regulation and policy reform implemented by the Victorian government in relation to energy issues reported by callers to Consumer Action’s National Debt Helpline.