The Albanese Labor Government is delivering vital reform for energy consumers, today announcing a new set of rules for electricity and gas retailers, set to make energy plans fairer for all Australians.
From next year, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), on behalf of the nation's energy Ministers, will implement new rules that will:
- Stop sneaky price hikes - preventing retailers from increasing prices more than once a year;
- Prevent customers from being charged more than the standing offer price, if their initial low cost offer changes or expires;
- Ban excessive retailer charges like late payment fees for all retail contracts, and ensure all consumers will be entitled to a fee-free payment method;
- Ensure vulnerable Australians are receiving the best offer from their retailer, placing a stronger onus on retailers to assist hardship customers.
These changes will clamp down on retailers who do the wrong thing, by luring customers in with cheap deals, only to move them onto higher cost plans or impose hidden fees and charges.
Households and small businesses alike will be better off under these changes.
We're strengthening protections for energy consumers - today's announcement progresses our One Click Switch reforms underway, ensures consumers get the discounts they're entitled to, and boosts protections to ensure no one pays more than they should.
Today's outcome by the AEMC provides a final determination of rule changes that were submitted by the Albanese Government on behalf of the nations' energy ministers in August last year. The 'improving consumer confidence in retail energy plans' rule change comes into effect on 1 July 2026 and the 'assisting hardship customers' rule change comes into effect from 30 December 2026.
This action from the Albanese Labor Government stands in stark contrast to the delay, denial and delusion from the Federal Coalition, whose policies left Australia with its biggest energy crisis in history.
Only Labor will deliver the cleaner, fairer and more reliable energy system that Australians deserve.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen:
"Australians deserve a fairer go when it comes to their energy bills. In our second term, we're getting on with delivering reform to ensure that no household or business pays more than they should.
"While we're focused on reducing the costs of energy, the Coalition remain committed to the most expensive form of energy: nuclear energy. The Coalition are committed even after the Australian people sent them a resounding message that they're not interested the Coalition's nuclear scheme, or the cuts required to pay for it.
"Australians know that only Labor can be trusted to deliver fairer energy prices for households and businesses."
