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Sign the petition for fairer, simpler energy

To the federal government:

 

I call on you to implement a strong new consumer duty that requires energy companies to treat consumers fairly

 

Sign the petition below:

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It's time we make the energy market work for people – not just energy companies

We should all be able to switch on the lights at a fair price, but confusing and unfair energy tactics are costing Australians millions.

The burden of navigating various complex plans, offers and contracts to get a fair deal is often difficult, and sometimes impossible. Meanwhile, as more households than ever are investing in important technologies like solar and battery systems, it’s set to get even more complex – but our outdated energy rules aren’t keeping up with changes to how many of us get, use and pay for energy. 

Energy is an essential service, and it shouldn’t be this complicated. Everyone should have access to fair and affordable energy, and it should be simple and easy to get free, independent help if things go wrong with any energy product or service. 

Right now, the government is considering what changes to energy consumer protections are needed to better reflect the changing energy market. We’re calling for a new consumer duty for energy products and services, which would require energy providers to do what’s right by consumers – no ifs, buts or loopholes. The more voices we have backing these important changes together, the stronger our call for energy protections that actually achieve good, fair outcomes for consumers will be.

Add your name now and join the call for simpler, fairer energy

FAQs

At a time when we’re all looking for ways to save, energy companies are making it harder and harder to know what you’re paying and why. Confusing contracts, tariffs and plan names are the norm, and according to the ACCC more than 80% of households are being slugged with a ‘loyalty penalty’ on their energy bills.

The ACCC has responded to our ‘super’ complaint about these tactics and announced that it will investigate whether energy retailers are misleading consumers by promoting poor value plans as better value than they actually are. But this isn’t the only confusing tactic we’ve spotted – like retailers telling you to switch to a cheaper plan that might not even be available, to unnecessarily confusing energy plan names. 

Meanwhile newer technologies like solar, batteries and smart meters are transforming how households engage with the energy market – and adding even more complex products and services into the mix. 

Current energy rules aren’t doing enough to tackle all of this complexity and respond to the existing and emerging challenges that people face when engaging with the energy market. 

We’re calling for a new overarching legal obligation on energy retailers to act fairly, communicate clearly with consumers and ensure that products and services actually meet consumers’ needs.
This duty should help make sure there is meaningful consumer choice and well-designed options for households that want to engage more actively with the energy market, as well as fair, simple and accessible ‘no-frills’ options that are available to all consumers.
There are a number of reviews underway right now that are looking at energy consumer protections, which means we have a crucial opportunity to win important changes that would require energy companies to treat consumers fairly.
But to get these changes over the line, we’ll need to show the government that thousands of people are calling for change to ensure everyone has access to fair and affordable energy. 
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