The Victorian Government has promised retirement village residents hundreds of dollars in savings off their energy bills thanks to new reforms introduced this week.
The Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said that from 1 September, the maximum price that embedded network customers can be charged for their electricity will be set to the Victorian Default Offer – which the Government has set as a fair price across the state.
She said Victorians living in embedded networks, such as retirement villages and apartment buildings would be better off thanks to the new pricing cap.
“We’re making sure that all Victorians have access to fair energy prices, whether you live in an apartment building or retirement village, or run a business in a shopping centre,” said Ms D’Ambrosio.
“These customers will now have access to the same cheaper deal, and have the same protections as Victorians who live in a house and can choose their energy provider.”
The Minister said that from the 1 September introduction of the price cap, residents of apartment buildings, rooming houses, caravan parks and retirement villages could save between $180 and $370 a year on energy bills, while small businesses in shopping centres could save between $900 and $2,200.
She said more than 120,000 residential and small business customers lived or worked in embedded networks across Victoria.
“Customers in embedded networks are locked into a contract with a specific company, and these companies can act as a monopoly and charge higher prices for energy,” she said.
The announcement follows a decision by the Essential Services Commission to set the Victorian Default Offer as the maximum price for these customers.
For more information, visit energy.vic.gov.au/victoriandefaultoffer.
