Full retail competition in electricity commences in New South Wales (Australia)

As of 1 January 2002, over 2.8 million customers in New South Wales, Australia, are now able to choose their electricity retail supplier. This is a landmark reform in the electricity sector in Australia, with NSW leading the other Australian states. Learning from experience overseas, the New South Wales Government has established a customer protection framework aimed at minimising switching costs, ensuring customers can make informed choices, and minimising the potential for unfair or unscrupulous conduct. At the same time there has been a focus on ensuring centralised and business IT systems are up to the task of effectively tracking and billing customers who switch retailer. Competition will encourage retailers to generate improved and more innovative retail services, and apply downward pressure on prices for residential and small business customers ensuring a wider distribution of electricity market reforms. Frontier's Melbourne office advised the New South Wales Government on the policy framework and implementation of full retail competition. For more information, click here.