From Universal Service to No Service? The Redlining of Vulnerable Electricity Customers in Victoria
by Andrea Sharam. This research examines the likely impact of full retail competition in electricity on certain customers groups that may be classed as "vulnerable customers". These include low income, low consumption, rural/remote and tenants. The report highlights the lack of obligation to supply in Victoria, and critiques the temporary safety net (the standing offers) as institutionalising price/service discrimination (redlining) against the very customers such a 'provider of last resort' scheme is presumably intended to protect. The report is available to download at the following links. http://home.vicnet.net.au/~eag1/report.pdf http://home.vicnet.net.au/~eag1/cover.pdf Andrea Sharam is the President of the Energy Action Group, and formerly the community legal educator worker at the Essendon Community Legal Centre. The research was undertaken a partnership between the two organisations and was financially supported by the Lance Reichstein Foundation. Swinburne University will host a free half day seminar on redlining in the utility, telco and banking industries. 29th November 2001 Swinburne University, Hawthorn 9.30 am - 1.00pm Building GB Room 101 Terry Laidler, former ABC broadcaster and Director of the Centre for International Research on Communications and Information Technology will launch: From Universal Service to No Service? The Redlining of Vulnerable Electricity Customers in Victoria[1] by Andrea Sharam Barry Duggan, Reach Out For Kids Non-discretionary spending & disadvantage Helen Campbell, Consumers Telecommunication Network The Un-Customer Sharon Barker, Financial and Consumer Rights Council Banking de-regulation, disadvantage and discrimination Discussion & Lunch Car parking is available at venue $3 all day or 1 hour free at David Jones roof top next door. 1 minute walk from Glenferrie railway station, Glenferrie Rd tram RSVP & Inquirie Andrea Sharam, Institute Social Research Ph 9214 5243 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] Energy Action Group, PO Box 136, North Melbourne 3051, Tel 041 736 7209 -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
