Essential Services Commission

Our work is essential to Victorians which means with us, you will be engaging in meaningful work that has direct community impact. If you're looking to enhance your career, have opportunities to 🌱 grow and connect with passionate people - come and join us, we may have the perfect role just for ✨ you ✨. 📣 Don't miss out on the following opportunities which are closing on Wednesday 27 November 2024 ⤵️ 💼 Project Officer (VPSG4): https://lnkd.in/grBYrdxS 💼 Regulatory Reform Officer (VPSG4): https://lnkd.in/g4NXRJQq #WeAreHiring #CommissionCareers #CareerOpportunities #WorkWithPurpose Gerard Brody Sarah Sheppard Rebecca Billings Elly Patira Jess Young Marcus Crudden Nathan Zhivov Dan Keely Tracey B.

Today, Commissioners and staff joined the annual Walk Against Family Violence for a seventh year, walking alongside industry and community sector colleagues to stand in solidarity with victim survivors. What has now become an annual tradition was championed by our former Chairperson and current AER Board Member Kate Symons. We were pleased to have representatives from regulated businesses and entities join us on the walk. On the walk we reflected on the impact of family violence and violence against women and showed our support for a community where all people are safe, equal and respected. Earlier in the day Ciara Sterling from Thriving Communities Australia joined our Chairperson Gerard Brody for a staff event on our Safety by Design Partnership Project. They talked about drawing on insights from people with lived experience and working collaboratively to create better outcomes for consumers affected by family violence.  Everyone has a role to play in preventing and responding to family violence. Gerard Brody Rebecca Billings Elly Patira Sarah Sheppard Marcus Crudden Dan Keely Nathan Zhivov Lucy Idle (Weston) Jess Gregory Peta Farquhar

Last week our team met with Greater Western Water and toured their Altona Treatment Plant as part of our engagement process for the 2024 new customer contributions review. The team at the Altona Treatment Plant provided valuable insights into the treatment plant’s key processes and stages. Through sharing their knowledge and experience, we were given a glimpse into the complex technology and infrastructure needed to effectively treat recycled water. We also learnt how the plant provides essential wastewater services to deliver value for the community.    Connecting with water businesses is a great opportunity for us to: 💧 discuss our consultation paper and the foundations of new customer contributions 💧 present issues we have observed from previous price reviews  💧 hear from water businesses about their experience in implementing new customer contributions   Over the last few months, we have received numerous submissions from interested stakeholders that will inform our review of new customer contributions for water, sewerage, and recycled water connections. You can read our consultation paper and follow the latest updates on our review via Engage Victoria: https://lnkd.in/eGw2s2gC   Gerard Brody Sarah Sheppard Rebecca Billings Jess Young Elly Patira Marcus Crudden Dan Keely Nathan Zhivov Angeline Bilas Vicki Smith John Kalu, Ph.D. Craig Madden Chen (Zach) Zhang Oscar Burns

The One Generation initiative was launched today, with a focus on creating more supportive environments for consumers impacted by family violence: https://lnkd.in/gBdAFkMW We look forward to continuing to work closely with Thriving Communities Partnership on our Safety By Design programme, partnering with key leaders in family violence and economic abuse to develop better practice guides for energy and water businesses to support consumers who are experiencing family violence.

Earlier this week, we ran a seminar in partnership with VicWater focusing on the Victorian water sector’s financial viability. The seminar brought together over 50 stakeholders from 18 Victorian water businesses, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Treasury Corporation of Victoria and VicWater. Dr. Will Taylor from National Economic Research Associates (NERA) provided an overview of NERA’s recommendations from the review we commissioned into our approach to assessing financial viability risks of regulated water utilities. Our Executive Director of Price Monitoring and Regulation, Marcus Crudden reflected on how the water sector’s investment needs, funding approaches and cumulative expenditure have evolved over the past two decades. We also heard from Pat McCafferty, Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water, and Therese Tierney, Board Chair of East Gippsland Water on their views on balancing longer term asset management strategies and financial health of the businesses as well as our role in guiding key financial decisions of water utilities. Thank you to Commissioner Rebecca Billings and Chief Executive Officer of VicWater, Jo Lim for facilitating an informative and productive discussion. We look forward to creating further opportunities for the water sector to engage with us as we prepare to deliver water infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of Victoria's growing population and the long term interests of consumers. Gerard Brody Sarah Sheppard Elly Patira Jess Young Nathan Zhivov Dan Keely Mayumi Edirisinghe Angeline Bilas

Find meaningful work in our diverse roles at the commission. Whether you're leading regulatory reforms or investigating consumer cases, the work you do here can make real, positive change for Victorians. Don't miss out on the following opportunities: 💼 Senior IT Analyst (VPS5): https://lnkd.in/g3qFU8JE 💼 Project Analyst (VPSG4): https://lnkd.in/gMJZR9zd 💼 Regulatory Reform Officer (VPSG4): https://lnkd.in/g4NXRJQq 💼 Project Officer (VPSG4): https://lnkd.in/grBYrdxS #WeAreHiring #CommissionCareers #WorkwithPurpose #JobOpportunities Gerard Brody Sarah Sheppard Rebecca Billings Jess Young Elly Patira Marcus Crudden Dan Keely Nathan Zhivov Tracey B.

Last week on Thursday, Commissioner Rebecca Billings chaired a public forum on our 2025 Port of Melbourne market rent inquiry. The forum was attended by around 35 port tenants, staff from the Port of Melbourne, a number of government stakeholders and commission staff. It was a great opportunity to inform stakeholders of our role in this review, how we approach the inquiry and key milestones. Acting Director Angeline Bilas spoke to some of the issues outlined in our scope and process paper, which we publicly released last month. We were fortunate to have Saul Cannon, the CEO of Port of Melbourne, share his views on the Port’s impact on the Victorian economy and on the inquiry. Our scope and process paper is open for feedback until 14 November 2024. We will also host confidential drop-in sessions on 12 and 14 November for stakeholders to meet with us and provide feedback directly. For more information, visit Engage Victoria: https://lnkd.in/gqGQvFVA If you missed the public forum, you can watch the recording: https://lnkd.in/gbV26ZzX Sarah Sheppard Gerard Brody Rebecca Billings Jess Young Marcus Crudden Dan Keely Nathan Zhivov

Earlier this week, our Chairperson Gerard Brody, Commissioner Rebecca Billings and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Crudden met with North East Water Chair Stephen Brown, Managing Director Joanne Murdoch, board members and senior executives in Shepparton to discuss strategic water pricing issues. North East Water will lodge their price submission with us by late 2025. We will then review and set prices from 1 July 2026. Our Acting Director for Energy Pricing, Angeline Bilas also engaged with North East Water staff to consult on our new customer contributions review paper. To date, our water team have travelled around Victoria to Mildura, Shepparton, Traralgon, Leongatha, Phillip Island and Wendouree to consult on new customer contributions with water businesses.   #WaterPricing #Consultation #Collaboration #Shepparton Sarah Sheppard Jess Young Dan Keely Nathan Zhivov Nicholas Moore - CPA, GAICD Stephen Brown

We’ve released our annual report for 2023-24. Our annual report reflects a year of regulatory outcomes that have supported Victorians to access essential transport, local council, water and energy services, with a focus on protecting consumers experiencing vulnerability. Our annual report covers: ✔️ Extensive consultations on codes of practice, standards and licensing decisions that regulated businesses in Victoria must follow ✔️ Strong compliance and enforcement action including court enforceable undertakings and penalties ✔️ Significant pricing decisions including the 2024–25 Victorian Default Offer electricity price and 2023–24 tariffs for 16 Victorian water businesses 🔹 Read our 2023–24 annual report: https://lnkd.in/dqHvvcZ 🔹 Read our media release: https://lnkd.in/gAMkDyRa Sarah Sheppard Gerard Brody Rebecca Billings Jess Young Marcus Crudden Dan Keely Nathan Zhivov

📣 Our monthly newsletter, 📰 Essential News is out now. Stay up-to-date on the latest news, consultations and events from the commission. 📰 Read Essential News: October 2024 now: https://lnkd.in/gX8V2-nK ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletters to receive updates directly to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/g2AUeJU7 Sarah Sheppard Gerard Brody Rebecca Billings Jess Young Marcus Crudden Dan Keely Nathan Zhivov