The Better Bills Guideline (Version 1) was published on 31 March 2022. The purpose of the Guideline is to provide guidance to retailers on preparing and issuing bills that make it easy for small customers to understand billing information.
On 23 September 2022, the AER published a draft Better Bills Guideline (Version 2) and draft notice for consultation. The amendments in the draft Better Bills Guideline (Version 2) provide clarity on the better offer and self-read information requirements. They also provide flexibility to allow for a delay to the date retailers must comply with the new billing requirements, in line with a determination made by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) on 13 October 2022.
On 30 January 2023, the AER published the final Better Bills Guideline (Version 2). In addition to amendments proposed in the draft Guideline, the final Better Bills Guideline (Version 2) makes some further amendments in response to issues raised by stakeholders during the consultation process.
Background
On 16 April 2020, the Hon Angus Taylor MP (then Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction), submitted a rule change request to amend the National Energy Retail Rules on behalf of the Australian Government.
On 18 March 2021, the AEMC made a final rule requiring us to publish a billing guideline by 1 April 2022.
Updates
- 30 September 2022 – AER publishes illustrative example bills, accompanying explanatory information, and BIT’s research report on consumer testing of these examples.
- 6 July 2023 – AER issues a letter to retailers approving an energy bill relief message under section 37 of the Better Bills Guideline.
- 26 July 2023 – AER issues a letter to retailers on expectations regarding small embedded network customers.
- 10 August 2023 – AER revokes 6 July 2023 section 37 decision and publishes a new decision approving different energy bill relief messages.
- 27 September 2023 – AER amends 10 August 2023 section 37 decision and publishes an amended decision.
- 28 June 2024 – AER amends 10 August 2023 section 37 decision (as previously amended on 27 September 2023) and publishes an amended decision.
- 1 October 2024 - AER provides guidance to retailers following Better Bills Guideline compliance activities
- 23 May 2025 - AER issues a letter to retailers requiring all retailers who re-use plan names to include additional information in Tier 1 of their small customer bills that contain a negative better offer message.
- 19 June 2025 - AER issues a letter to retailers on expectations regarding continuation of the energy bill relief message required under the amended 10 August 2023 section 37 decision, as communicated to retailers on 1 July 2024.