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The tariffs have gone up. Can the energy or water company do this? Does it have to let me know?For energy, the simple answer to the first question is yes, the electricity or natural gas company can do it. Whether it has to let you know will depend on your contract:
If it's a market contract, there will usually be a clause about price increases. That clause might say it's possible to exit the contract without penalty for a certain period after notice of a price increase.
If it's a standing contract, the new price will be published in the Victorian Government Gazette, and a notice will generally appear on the first bill you receive that’s based on the new price.
A water company must publish a notice of a change in its charges in a newspaper generally circulating in its operating area. The company is limited in how much it can increase its charges, because the Essential Services Commission (ESC) sets prices for several years in Water Price Reviews. (For 2008/09, the Minister for Water, rather than the ESC, decided how much the metropolitan water companies could increase their prices.)
LPG pricing is not government-regulated. Information on LPG prices can be found on a LPG retailer’s website; generally speaking, prices are based on the volume and the international wholesale price.
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