Project timeline

Overview

Initiation
Draft Decision

Draft decision

Following our Review of payment difficulty protections in the National Energy Customer Framework, we are proposing to increase the minimum disconnection amount to $500 (including GST). In proposing this amount, we have considered:

  • the long-standing principle that customers should not be disconnected for being one quarterly bill behind
  • changes in the broader context of the energy market, including inflation, energy prices and estimated quarterly electricity costs
  • implementation considerations, including the impact on retailer costs, customer awareness and engagement, and ongoing monitoring and compliance.

We have published a draft decision for the new amount and are seeking stakeholder feedback. Consultation closes on Wednesday, 18 June 2025. We aim to make a final decision on the new minimum disconnection amount in mid-2025.

 

Submissions

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We are seeking stakeholder feedback on our proposal to increase the minimum disconnection amount to $500 (including GST) by Wednesday, 18 June 2025.

Interested parties are invited to make submissions to the AER by close of business Wednesday, 18 June 2025. Submissions should be emailed to ConsumerPolicyataer [dot] gov [dot] au (ConsumerPolicy[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au) or mailed to:

General Manager, Policy
Australian Energy Regulator
GPO Box 3131
Canberra ACT 2601

The AER prefers that all submissions be publicly available to facilitate an informed and transparent consultation process. Submissions will be treated as public documents unless otherwise requested. All non-confidential submissions will be placed on the AER’s website. For further information regarding the AER’s use and disclosure of information provided to it, see the ACCC/AER Information Policy available on the AER's website.

Parties wishing to submit confidential information are requested to clearly identify the information that is the subject of the confidentiality claim and provide a non-confidential version of the submission in a form suitable for publication.

Documents

AER Review of the minimum disconnection amount – Draft decision – May 2025

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AER
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