A PYMNTS Company

Australian Competition Watchdog Accepts EnergyAustralia Undertaking Over Retail Rule Breach

By  |  August 4, 2026
energy

Australia’s competition regulator has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from EnergyAustralia after the retailer failed to introduce a government-mandated electricity plan by the required deadline, in a case that underscores regulatory scrutiny of compliance in the country’s retail energy market.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    According to Reuters, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said EnergyAustralia breached electricity retail rules by failing to make its Solar Sharer Offer available to eligible customers by July 1, as required under the Electricity Retail Code. Reuters reported that the company launched the plan on Aug. 3 after missing the deadline.

    According to reporting by Renew Economy, the ACCC chose to accept an enforceable undertaking rather than pursue stronger enforcement measures, requiring the company to continue offering the plan, strengthen its compliance processes and report its progress to regulators. Renew Economy reported that the regulator described the delay as depriving eligible households of access to a consumer benefit that had been mandated under the new rules.

    The Solar Sharer Offer was introduced as part of reforms to Australia’s Default Market Offer framework and requires qualifying electricity retailers to provide eligible households with smart meters access to three hours of free electricity during the middle of the day, when solar generation is typically at its highest. According to the Australian government, the initiative is intended to help consumers lower electricity bills while encouraging electricity demand to shift toward periods of abundant renewable generation.

    Reuters reported that ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said the delay prevented current and prospective customers from accessing the plan and that major retailers are expected to maintain systems capable of meeting their legal obligations.

    As part of the undertaking, EnergyAustralia agreed to continue making the Solar Sharer Offer available, report its compliance to both the ACCC and the Australian Energy Regulator, train customer-facing staff on the program and publish details of the undertaking on its website, according to Reuters.

    The enforcement action adds to previous regulatory scrutiny of the retailer. Reuters noted that the ACCC sued EnergyAustralia in 2023 over allegations that it provided misleading electricity pricing information.

    Source: Reuters