On 26 November 2017, the Australian Government announced the introduction of a Consumer Data Right (CDR) that will give consumers greater access to and control over their data. The CDR has been operational in the banking sector since 1 July 2020 and implementation for the energy sector is under development. It is anticipated that the CDR will eventually apply across the Australian economy.
While no date is set for implementation in the Western Australian energy sector, the CDR is expected to apply in jurisdictions participating in the National Electricity Market in late 2022.
The CDR will improve consumers’ ability to compare and switch between products and services, where such choice exists, and promote competition between service providers. It could also lead to more innovative products and services and, potentially, better prices for customers.
Providing access to data under a robust governance framework is in the long-term interest of all customers. Given the regulatory reforms underway in Western Australia, Energy Policy WA considers that an assessment of the regulatory and policy arrangements for CDR for the energy sector should be undertaken following the substantive completion of these reform actions. Further information is available in the Position Paper below.
