Know your rights
Things your retailer, landlord, or building manager probably hasn't told you.
Australian energy law gives consumers real protections. Most people don't know about them. These aren't edge cases — they affect roughly 1 in 10 households in some form.
You may have the right to switch off your demand tariff.
Affects an estimated 1 in 10 NSW households with a smart meter.
What is a demand tariff?
A demand tariff charges you based on your single highest 30-minute peak usage in a billing period — not just how much electricity you use in total. Ausgrid started assigning these automatically to smart-meter customers. Most customers don't know they're on one.
What can you do?
After one month of billing on a demand tariff, you have the right to ask your retailer to move you to a time-of-use or flat-rate tariff. You do not need to change retailers to do this. Most retailers will action it within 1–3 business days.
“I'd like to change my network tariff from demand to time-of-use. I understand I'm entitled to do this under the IPART framework.”
Source: IPART Retail demand charges add to electricity bills, 18 December 2024. Applies to Ausgrid network area (Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter). Check your network area before calling.
Embedded network customers have rights too — even though you can't switch retailers.
Affects apartments, caravan parks, retirement villages, and some commercial buildings.
What is an embedded network?
Your building buys electricity in bulk from the grid and on-sells it to individual apartments or lots. Your “retailer” is effectively your building or body corporate. You are not a direct NECF customer and cannot choose an energy retailer the way most Australians can.
What rights do you have?
- ✓Clear pricing — your operator must give you a written schedule of what you pay.
- ✓Dispute resolution — you can escalate to the Energy and Water Ombudsman in your state even though you're not a standard market customer.
- ✓Protection against arbitrary disconnection.
- ✓In some states, a cap on what you can be charged relative to the default market offer (DMO).
Can you opt out?
Sometimes. If your meter can be assigned its own NMI (network metering identifier), you may be able to become an “on-market” customer. This depends on your building's physical setup and the operator's willingness to cooperate. Ask your building manager whether individual metering is possible.
Source: AER Network Exemption Guideline 2022. AER Exempt Selling Guideline, October 2022.
You're renting. Here's what your state says your landlord owes you.
VIC, NSW, ACT, and QLD have minimum energy performance standards. Most renters haven't heard of them.
Victoria
Most comprehensive in Australia- •Fixed heater in the main living area (not a portable plug-in heater)
- •Ceiling insulation (where reasonable to install)
- •Window coverings on all habitable rooms
- •Draught proofing on external doors and windows
- •Hot water system meeting minimum efficiency standards
- •Shower head with a 3-star WELS rating
Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic), Minimum Standards 2021
Read the full standards →NSW
Standards in effect from March 2020- •Adequate ventilation in each room
- •Adequate natural light in main living areas and bedrooms
- •Soundproofing (in shared buildings)
- •Hot and cold water supply
Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW), minimum standards regulation
Read the full standards →ACT
Energy efficiency ratings required from 2023- •Rental properties must be disclosed with an energy efficiency rating
- •Minimum EER for new leases (phasing in from 2023)
- •Fixed heater in main living area
Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (ACT), EER disclosure requirements
Read the full standards →Queensland
Minimum standards from 1 September 2023- •All rooms must have windows or skylights for natural light
- •All rooms must have adequate ventilation
- •Bathroom, toilet, and laundry facilities must be in good working order
Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (Qld), minimum housing standards 2023
Read the full standards →Standards vary by state and include some exemptions (heritage listings, strata title constraints, etc.). Check the details for your specific situation. For states not listed, contact your state's tenancy authority.