The Victorian Government has announced it will defer the transition to the National Energy Retail Law in a bid to safeguard the state’s consumer protection laws.

 

"Victoria has the strongest consumer protections in the country and we are not prepared to accept a dilution of key Victorian consumer protections as a result of this reform," State Minister for Energy and Resources Michael O'Brien said.

 

The National Energy Retail Law forms part of the energy market reform outlined by the Council of Australian Governments in a bid to form a single regulatory framework for energy retail regulation.

 

Mr O’Brien said his Government had consistently maintained that it would only agree to the reform if suitable safeguards were put in place to maintain preexisting consumer protections.

 

"Victoria is working to reach an acceptable agreement with the Commonwealth, so that we can deliver the potential benefits of a national framework," Mr O'Brien said.

 

"However, despite our best endeavours, a resolution of outstanding issues has not occurred in time for us to implement the new laws from 1 July 2012 as previously proposed.

 

"The Essential Services Commission will continue to regulate the Victorian Energy Retail Code while Victoria undertakes further work with the Australian Energy Regulator regarding the administration of certain key state-specific retail regulations," Mr O'Brien said.