Energy Retail Competition - Statistical Reports

1. Report 1 - September 2003

   This is the first in a regular series of reports by the Commission on the development of Full Retail Contestability (FRC) in the South Australian electricity market.

   • Statistical Report: Monitoring the Development of Electricity Retail Competition in SA

2. Report 2 - November 2003

   This is the second in a regular series of reports by the Commission on the development of Full Retail Contestability (FRC) in the South Australian electricity market.

   • Statistical Report: Monitoring the Development of Electricity Retail Competition in SA

3. Report 3 - February 2004

   This is the third in a regular series of reports by the Commission on the development of Full Retail Contestability (FRC) in the South Australian electricity market.

   • Statistical Report: Monitoring the Development of Electricity Retail Competition in SA

4. Report 4 - May 2004

   This is the fourth in a regular series of reports by the Commission on the development of Full Retail Contestability (FRC) in the South Australian electricity market.

   • Statistical Report: Monitoring the Development of Electricity Retail Competition in SA

5. Report 5 - September 2004

   The Essential Services Commission of South Australia has released the fifth in a regular series of reports on the development of Full Retail Contestability (FRC) in the South Australian electricity market. For the first time, a review of the development of the South Australian gas retail market has also been incorporated.

   This is the first report to be issued adopting the modified framework, as outlined in the Commission's recently released "Monitoring the Development of Energy Retail Competition in South Australia, Final Decision, September 2004", which sets out the detailed framework for the assessment of energy retail competition in South Australia..

   This report provides an analysis of this stage in the development of retail competition in South Australia, and in summary shows:

   • The gas retail market appears to have opened well, with around 3,300 small South Australian gas customers transferring to market contracts as at the end of August 2004, representing 1% of the small gas customer base of around 340,000 customers.
   • There has been a very significant increase in the number of South Australian electricity customers transferring to market contracts, with around 134,000 small South Australian electricity customers transferring to market contracts as at the end of June 2004, representing 18% of the small electricity customer base of around 740,000 customers. This reflects the impact of the State Government's $50 Electricity Transfer Rebate offer, which ended in August 2004.
   • The results of a survey of small South Australian electricity and gas customers shows a significant increase in the proportion of residential and small business electricity respondents aware that they can choose their electricity retailers, compared with results of a similar survey last year, with a similar high level of awareness amongst gas respondents. A significant increase was also identified in the proportion of residential electricity respondents receiving an offer of a contract, with an encouraging number of gas market contracts being offered. A high proportion of respondents receiving offers considered them easy to understand.
   • Five retailers are currently selling electricity to small customers in South Australia, with four of these operating in the gas retail market.
   • A number of price comparison services now exist to assist small customers to make informed decisions on alternative energy retail offers.
   •  Monitoring the Development of Energy Retail Competition in South Australia Statistical Report

6. Report 5 - September 2004 Erratum

   Please be advised that the estimated value of potential savings from moving to a market contract contained in Section 6.4 (Price Comparisons for Residential Offers) of the report "Monitoring the Development of Energy Retail Competition in South Australia - Statistical Report", September 2004, has been revised following clarification that some of the offers are not available for consumption below specified levels.

   • Erratum: Monitoring the Development of Energy Retail Competition in South Australia Statistical Report

7. Report 6 - March 2005

   The Essential Services Commission of South Australia has released the sixth in a regular series of reports on the development of Full Retail Contestability (FRC) in the South Australian electricity market, which is also the second report that reviews the development of the SA gas retail market.

   This report provides an analysis of this stage in the development of retail competition in South Australia, and in summary shows:

   • The gas retail market has opened well, with around 55,000 small SA gas customers transferring to market contracts as at the end of February 2005, representing 15% of the small gas customer base of around 365,000 customers.
   • Notwithstanding the expiry of the State Government's $50 Electricity Transfer Rebate offer in August 2004, there are still a considerable number of electricity transfers occurring each month. As at the end of February 2005, there had been around 250,000 small customer completed transfers to market contracts in the SA electricity retail market, representing 34% of the small electricity customer base of around 740,000 customers.
   • There are now six retailers selling electricity to small customers in SA, with four of these operating in the gas retail market.
   • There has been an improvement in the level of potential savings in moving to an electricity market contract.

   The National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS) has used the results of the 2002/03 ABS Survey of Income and Housing Costs to update the relevant change in income section of its February 2004 report.

   • Monitoring the Development of Energy Retail Competition in South Australia Statistical Report

8. Report 7 - September 2005

   The Essential Services Commission of South Australia has released the seventh in a regular series of reports on the development of Full Retail Contestability (FRC) in the South Australian electricity market, and the third report that also reviews the development of the SA gas retail market.

   This report provides an analysis of this stage in the development of retail competition in South Australia, and in summary shows:

   • The electricity and gas retail markets are performing well in terms of customer transfers to market contracts and by the end of August 2005 there had been 322,000 completed electricity transfers and 117,000 completed gas transfers since the commencement of FRC in the respective markets.
   • Six retailers are currently selling electricity to small customers in SA, with four of these operating in the gas retail market. These retailers are generally offering contracts to residential and small business across the State, although there is a lack of gas market contract offers being made in rural and regional areas.
   • The level of potential savings in moving to an electricity market contract remain significant, and much higher than the potential savings available from gas market contracts.
   • A significant range exists across retailers in the level of market contract early termination charges faced by customers.
   • Monitoring the Development of Energy Retail Competition in South Australia Statistical Report

9. Report 8 - March 2006

   The Essential Services Commission of South Australia has released the eighth in a regular series of reports on the development of Full Retail Contestability (FRC) in the South Australian electricity market, and the fourth report that also reviews the development of the SA gas retail market.

   This report provides an analysis of this stage in the development of retail competition in South Australia, and in summary shows:

   • The electricity and gas retail markets are performing well in terms of customer transfers to market contracts since the commencement of FRC in the respective markets. By the end of February 2006 there had been 397,000 completed electricity transfers, equivalent to just over 50% of the small electricity customer base of around 755,000 customers, and 159,000 completed gas transfers, equivalent to 43% of the small gas customer base of around 370,000;
   • Nine retailers are currently selling electricity to small customers in SA, with four of these operating in the gas retail market. These retailers are generally offering contracts to residential and small business across the State. The results of a survey of small South Australian electricity and gas customers undertaken in early 2006 indicate that:
   • the proportion of residential and small business respondents aware of their ability to choose their electricity and gas retailers has leveled out, after the significant increase reported in the 2004 survey;
   • the majority of both residential and small business respondents that had taken out a market contract considered the transfer process to be easy;
   • price generally continues to be rated as the main driver in people's decision to move to a market contract;
   • The level of potential savings in moving to an electricity market contract remains significant, and higher than the potential savings available from moving to gas market contracts.

    

   • Monitoring the Development of Energy Retail Competition in South Australia Statistical Report
   • McGregor Tan Research Survey Report For Residential Customers
   • McGregor Tan Research Survey Report For Small Business Customers