Cost of Living
For a brief moment, and for a lucky few, we eradicated poverty. Now we're letting people slip back below the
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To support low-income Victorians through this crisis, regulatory changes must be accompanied by a combination of targeted financial support and
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Victorian community organisations have prepared this joint submission to represent the interest of consumers, and especially vulnerable households, in the
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For some households with embedded networks it can be close to impossible, or very expensive, to exit the network.
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Energy efficiency upgrades reduce household energy bills and can make houses healthier and more comfortable.
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We are concerned that Victorians on low-incomes and with additional energy-related needs could miss out on their benefits and protections.
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VCOSS submission to the Senate inquiry into the adequacy of Newstart and related payments VCOSS joins the call of economists,
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Response to Essential Services Commission Issues Paper Ensuring energy contracts are clear and fair These proposed reforms come on the
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Response to draft Orders in Council on the Victorian Default Offer Joint submission by the Victorian Council of Social Service,
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Response to ESC draft decision on Energy Retail Code changes The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) welcomes consultation by
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Response to the Essential Services Commission draft advice on the Victorian Default Offer methodology Joint submission by the Victorian Council
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The new Victorian energy fact sheet will replace existing price and product information statements and offer summaries.
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A deliberately confusing and complex electricity market is allowing retailers to charge Victorians more.
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VCOSS is concerned the VEU program is under-used by people on low incomes, renters and people with health and disability
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This report estimates 180,000 Victorian households (7.3%) experience persistent payment difficulty.
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VCOSS response to registration guideline for non-licensed electricity providers. In Victoria, most electricity is provided by businesses licensed by the
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VCOSS is keen to ensure minimum feed-in tariffs do not increase energy bills for non-solar, grid-dependent households, and negate the
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VCOSS supports amendments that would ensure Victorian energy customers are notified about changes to, or the expiry of, a fixed
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While financial literacy and capability programs are only one factor in achieving financial wellbeing, they help reduce vulnerability to financial
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VCOSS is very pleased the ACCC is undertaking this inquiry and exercising its powers to compel information from retailers. We
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On 10 October 2017 the Essential Services Commission released a draft guidance note outlining its approach to promoting and enforcing compliance with
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We live in tough energy times. Power prices keep going up, well beyond inflation, wages, and income support payments. Staying
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Victorians are being pushed to the edge by electricity price rises. Our bills are now the second highest in Australia
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It is increasingly tough to stay connected to power and providing support for people in payment difficulty is more important
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VCOSS views the proposed redesign as an opportunity to strengthen, rather than diminish, financial wellbeing and capability services, particularly at
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"The robodebt system must be, to borrow a term used previously, must be ‘dead, buried and cremated’. It should not
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Energy is an essential service. Yet there are signs Victoria’s energy retail markets are not operating in consumers’ interests and need reform.
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