The Essential Services Commission has released an Electricity Distribution Code Review issues paper requesting feedback on the questions put forward about the rights, responsibilities, services and protections offered to people by their electricity providers and distributors.

Many people who get in touch with HAAG’s Retirement Housing Advice Service are residents of retirement housing options such as caravan parks, residential parks, retirement villages and independent living units who receive their electricity from an Embedded Network. An Embedded Network means that the Village Operator is called an ‘exempt seller’ and buys electricity from the main grid distributors and then on-sells it to the Embedded Network residents.

The Electricity Distribution Code issues review paper has a section highlighting concerns for Embedded Network customers. According to the current Electricity Distribution Code, the rights and protections for service disruption and other distribution obligations are fully applied to the primary customer, the Village Operator, and only partially applied to secondary customers, the Embedded Network customers. The ‘exempt seller’ is not mandated to pass on the full rights, protections, information and services to the Embedded Network customers. This is concerning when many people that are living in retirement housing options with an Embedded Network cannot leave the Embedded Network if it is not working for them.

The first stage of the Electricity Distribution Code review involves a submissions process which HAAG contributed to on 13th of September 2019. The process is ongoing and the timeline states that the review is expected to be finalised in March 2020. If you are interested in finding more out about this review, you can find more information on the Engage Victoria website: engage.vic.gov.au/electricity-distribution-code-review

If you have concerns about your Embedded Network in relation to your housing, then you can contact the Retirement Housing Team for more information on 9654 7389 (option 2) or email them on retirement@oldertenants.org.au