Inquiry into retail energy prices

We are seeking your view and evidence on retail energy price rises to inform our inquiry.

What's being decided?

The Government of South Australia (the Government) has asked the Essential Services Commission of SA (the Commission) to conduct an Inquiry into retail energy prices.

The Inquiry has terms of reference, set by the Government that require the Commission to consider evidence of, or the potential for, a party (retailer, generator, trading entity or relevant other party) in the electricity industry and/or gas industry to earn or have earned sustained super profits to the financial detriment of South Australian energy consumers, having regard to certain criteria.

The Commission is seeking your views and evidence on these matters, to inform an Inquiry Report which is to be provided to the Minister for Energy and Mining by 1 May 2023.

The Inquiry will not consider issues outside of the scope of the Terms of Reference Inquiry into retail energy prices - terms of reference (escosa.sa.gov.au) .


Background

The Government of South Australia is concerned about the actual and potential price rises related to electricity and gas and the impact that is having on South Australians. While global factors like the war in Ukraine have affected the international costs of energy, we need to understand the reasons behind cost rises.

The Government has observed that there is almost no transparency on exactly how the level and timing of those international price rises have flowed through to domestic prices paid by South Australian consumers. It has stated that, in order to have confidence in the energy systems, consumers must know whether rises are justified and whether all possible restraints are being employed.

The Government of South Australia has therefore asked the Commission to commence a statutory Inquiry under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 to investigate and report findings on those matters.

Get involved

We want to hear about any issues which you think may be relevant to the Terms of Reference and which might assist the Commission to make findings and recommendations that will lead to positive long-term outcomes for South Australians.

Your responses to our survey below would greatly assist the Commission to make findings and recommendations for the Inquiry report.

Find out more:

Have your say by:


What's being decided?

Provide your feedback by FRIDAY 17 MARCH 2023.

We will consider your feedback and include major consumer themes in preparing our Report for the Inquiry into Retail Energy Prices which is due to the Minister for Energy and Mining by 1 May 2023.

A summary of themes from public consultation will be collated and linked to this consultation.

We are seeking your view and evidence on retail energy price rises to inform our inquiry.

What's being decided?

The Government of South Australia (the Government) has asked the Essential Services Commission of SA (the Commission) to conduct an Inquiry into retail energy prices.

The Inquiry has terms of reference, set by the Government that require the Commission to consider evidence of, or the potential for, a party (retailer, generator, trading entity or relevant other party) in the electricity industry and/or gas industry to earn or have earned sustained super profits to the financial detriment of South Australian energy consumers, having regard to certain criteria.

The Commission is seeking your views and evidence on these matters, to inform an Inquiry Report which is to be provided to the Minister for Energy and Mining by 1 May 2023.

The Inquiry will not consider issues outside of the scope of the Terms of Reference Inquiry into retail energy prices - terms of reference (escosa.sa.gov.au) .


Background

The Government of South Australia is concerned about the actual and potential price rises related to electricity and gas and the impact that is having on South Australians. While global factors like the war in Ukraine have affected the international costs of energy, we need to understand the reasons behind cost rises.

The Government has observed that there is almost no transparency on exactly how the level and timing of those international price rises have flowed through to domestic prices paid by South Australian consumers. It has stated that, in order to have confidence in the energy systems, consumers must know whether rises are justified and whether all possible restraints are being employed.

The Government of South Australia has therefore asked the Commission to commence a statutory Inquiry under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 to investigate and report findings on those matters.

Get involved

We want to hear about any issues which you think may be relevant to the Terms of Reference and which might assist the Commission to make findings and recommendations that will lead to positive long-term outcomes for South Australians.

Your responses to our survey below would greatly assist the Commission to make findings and recommendations for the Inquiry report.

Find out more:

Have your say by:


What's being decided?

Provide your feedback by FRIDAY 17 MARCH 2023.

We will consider your feedback and include major consumer themes in preparing our Report for the Inquiry into Retail Energy Prices which is due to the Minister for Energy and Mining by 1 May 2023.

A summary of themes from public consultation will be collated and linked to this consultation.

Inquiry into Retail Energy Prices

The Government of South Australia has requested the Essential Services Commission of SA (the Commission) to conduct an inquiry into retail energy prices. 

The terms of reference require the Commission to conduct an inquiry into evidence of, or the potential for, a party (retailer, generator, trading entity or relevant other party) in the electricity industry and/or gas industry to earn or have earned sustained super profits to the financial detriment of South Australian energy consumers, having regard to certain criteria.

Do you think that the price you pay for electricity and / or gas is a fair reflection of actual costs?

Consultation has concluded
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EVERY privatisation of a govt monopoly utility service has failed the consumer - world-wide!!! Read the https://hbr.org/1991/11/does-privatization-serve-the-public-interest for some still very real and still relevant conclusions on why privatisation has failed.
There is a massive disconnect between the wholesale price of energy published by AEMO and that charged by Energy Retailers. When you add together the full set of fees/charges (Network Charges, STC, Service Fees, etc) it rarely comes to 50% of the KWH tarrif.
Its a rort.....supported by past privatisation policy. When you consider the minimal over-heads now involved in reading meters, etc. (lets face it every other charge is now passed on to use - new meters (which provide an efficiency dividend for Retailers!! etc etc), just makes it demonstrably unreasonable.
Time for transformative change.......

Unrepresentative Government almost 2 years ago
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Retail pricing is at the behest of energy producers and generators. Windfall profits are being made on the back of Ukraine. Production costs haven't increased significantly, but profits certainly have.

Bob Sibson almost 2 years ago
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I think that Governments should provide these basic services and that privatisation has been a gross mismanagement of community resources and that all utilities should be nationalised again. Then the price of energy is more likely to be a reflection of real costs, rather than profit taking by the private utility.

Caroline Johnson almost 2 years ago
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