A new commissioner has been appointed to the board of the Essential Services Commission.
Assistant Treasurer, Robin Scott, announced competition law expert, Sitesh Bhojani, as the ESC’s newest commissioner, joining Kate Symons and Simon Corden.
The extra commissioner position was announced as part of the Victorian Government’s Energy Fairness Plan – a 2018 election commitment – to strengthen consumer protection in the Victorian energy market.
With a litigation and enforcement background, Mr Bhojani will help the commission set and enforce billing and marketing practices so that Victorians get fairer contract terms.
Mr Bhojani has extensive experience as a legal practitioner and in commissioner roles, including having worked with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Trade Practices Commission.
A recruitment process to appoint a new full-time commission chairperson is currently underway, with Ms Symons acting in the role.
The Energy Fairness Plan also gives the Commission clearer investigatory powers, as well as new powers to monitor and report on the Victorian retail energy market and crack down on retailers doing the wrong thing.
Assistant Treasurer, Robin Scott, said, “We said we’d put power back in the hands of Victorians and this key appointment is a further step towards ensuring that.
“Along with his fellow commissioners, Mr Bhojani will help provide the strongest protections for Victorian households and crack down on unscrupulous providers.”
Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “We promised an energy cop to crack down on retailers who do the wrong thing and we’re delivering with Mr Bhojani.”
