This amendment to the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 (Code) comes into force on 31 March 2020.

This amendment amends the Code to ban retailer-initiated saves and win-backs by a losing retailer until 180 days have elapsed after a customer has switched to a gaining retailer. The amendments are designed to:

(a) restore competitive pressure;

(b) reduce retail margins;

(c) increase innovation;

(d) increase customer acquisition and consumer search; and

(e) place retailers on a level competitive playing field.

This amendment amends Parts 1 and 11 of the Code. The changes include:

(a) establishing a period (a switch protected period) prohibiting a losing retailer from contacting a previous customer to persuade them to terminate an arrangement with a gaining retailer;

(b) limiting the circumstances in which a losing retailer may contact a previous customer during a switch protected period; and

(c) restricting the use of customer information by a losing retailer during a switch protected period.