From 1 January 2005, customers that consume more than 50 MWh of electricity (approximately $8,000 / year) have been eligible to choose to purchase electricity from a number of licensed electricity retailers other than Western Power. This brings the number of contestable customers to approximately 12,500. The Electricity Industry Customer Transfer Code 2004 promotes retail competition by setting out rules governing the provision of information relating to contestable customers, processes for transferring customers from one retailer to another and obligations of retailers and network operators in processing and implementing the transfer of a contestable customer.
The Authority also acts as the arbitrator of disputes which arise between network operators and retailers in relation to the transfer of contestable customers.
A network operator or retailer may refer a dispute to the Authority to resolve. Any queries in relation to this should be directed to the Director - Electricity Access on (08) 9213 1900.
Communication Rules
On 16 December 2005, the Authority approved communication rules proposed by Western Power in accordance with Part 5 of the Customer Transfer Code. Communication rules govern the format and protocols through which the communication of information and data relating to the transfer of contestable customers occurs between the networks business of Western Power and retailers of electricity.
Information regarding the Authority's assessment and approvals process can be found here. The approved communication rules are available here. Submissions received during the assessment and approvals process are available here.
On 20 February 2008, the Authority published a procedure for a party to refer a dispute under the Electricity Industry Customer Transfer Code 2004 and the Electricity Industry Metering Code 2005 to the Authority for resolution.
