Information for energy retailers

All electricity and gas retailers operating in NSW are required to be licensed. The Minister for Energy issues electricity and gas licences under the Electricity Supply Act 1995 and the Gas Supply Act 1996. The licences are issued on the advice of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The Minister may also attach endorsements to licences and issue Ministerial Directions to support the implementation of the energy consumer regulatory framework, which is predominantly implemented through licence conditions.

This regulatory framework includes:

• Rules around marketing practices, including the times that a retailer may knock on a customer's door and the type of information a retailer must provide;
• Obligation on standard retailers to supply small customers at regulated prices;
• The minimum information requirements for electricity and gas bills;
• The requirement for retailers to have hardship charters and offer residential customers two payment plans prior to disconnection;
• Price disclosure requirements; and
• Retailer of last resort protections.

The following two sections set out the documentation issued by the Minister for Energy to retailers to support the regulatory framework:

1. One section is for standard retailers, who are required to offer regulated prices to small customers and act as Retailer of Last Resort.
2. The other section is for all retailers who are required to deliver social programs, such as the Energy Rebate, to assist customers pay their energy bills.