Embedded networks are private gas or electricity networks that supply energy to homes or businesses in one building or site, such as an apartment building, shopping centre or caravan park. The embedded network connects to the local distributor’s electricity grid or gas pipelines.

The embedded network operator usually buys energy in bulk from an energy retailer and supplies or sells it to consumers within the embedded network. There are hundreds of embedded networks in Victoria, some of them quite small.

If you are not sure if you are in an embedded network, you can contact your body corporate, the operator of your caravan park or retirement village, or the company named on your energy bill. You can also check the Essential Services Commission’s register of embedded networks to see if yours is listed.

Many embedded networks owners engage a manager to:

• manage their network
• sell energy, and
• send bills to consumers.

Some of the larger managers are WinConnect, Energy On, Active Utilities, ENSA, Energy Intelligence, SUPA Energy, Network Energy Services and Seene. If you receive bills from any of these companies, you are in an embedded network.

In smaller embedded networks, such as caravan parks, consumers may receive a bill from the owner of the caravan park directly.

Consumers in Victoria have rights about how they buy their energy and how energy is supplied to them.

Consumers using energy in embedded networks have most of the same rights, protections and responsibilities as other customers under the Energy Retail Code of Practice (esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/codes-guidelines-and-policies/energy-retail-code-practice), the Electricity Distribution Code of Practice (esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/codes-guidelines-and-policies/electricity-distribution-code-practice) and the Gas Distribution Code of Practice (esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/codes-guidelines-and-policies/gas-distribution-code-practice).

Consumer protections include:

• life support registration for affected consumers
• payment difficulty assistance
• best offer notifications
• billing alerts and interruption notices
• maximum amounts you can be charged when abolishing your gas connection
• access to quality, reliable and safe energy supply.

Most Victorians can shop around and choose their energy provider, however, switching is more complicated for consumers in embedded networks.

For more information on the process, see our Switching for Consumers in Embedded Networks fact sheet — ewov.com.au/fact-sheets/switching-for-customers-in-embedded-networks.