Electricity users with consumption levels less than 50 MWh/a are non-contestable franchise customers and are currently only able to be supplied with electricity by Synergy as their electricity retailer. In these cases Synergy is required to offer tariff rates in accordance with the Energy Operators (Electricity Retail Corporation) (Charges) By Laws 2006 ("the By Laws").
For consumption levels between 50 and 160 MWh/a these consumers are classed as small use contestable customers. In this case, Synergy is still required to offer tariff rates in accordance with the By Laws above, however consumers are free to accept these tariff rates or choose to negotiate a non-tariff contract with any electricity retailer (including Synergy).
For consumption levels greater than 160 MWh/a, these consumers are classed as large use contestable customers. Synergy has tariffs for such customers in the By Laws, but is not required to offer those tariffs. In this case these consumers are able to negotiate a non-tariff contract with any electricity retailer (including Synergy).
The Code of Conduct for the Supply of Electricity to Small Use Customers became operational on 1 January 2005. This code regulates and controls the conduct of retailers, distributors and electricity marketing agents in order to protect the interests of customers who generally have little or no market power. For this reason, the Code only applies to customers who consume no more than 160 MWh of electricity per annum. This equates to an annual electricity bill of approximately $28,000.
The Code of Conduct and a Guide to the Code of Conduct can be accessed via the Economic Regulation Authority's website at http://www.era.wa.gov.au/electricity/electricityLicencingSmallUseInfo.cfm.
Contact details for the current electricity retailers within Western Australia can be accessed on the Electricity Industry Players page.
Access a copy of By Laws document via the link to the State Law Publisher's website below:
http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/statutes/regs.nsf/AllinOne?OpenForm&Seq=1
