Guideline: Explicit informed consent

Overview

The requirement that retailers obtain explicit informed consent is fundamental to ensuring Victorian consumers have trust and confidence in the energy market. The commission provides the following guidance on the requirements of explicit informed consent under the Energy Retail Code of Practice (the code). The updated version of this guideline comes into effect on 1 October 2026.

The purpose of the explicit informed consent obligations is to ensure that consumers understand the information about the transaction they are entering into and clearly provide their consent to the transaction.

This guideline sets out the general requirements that apply to obtaining explicit informed consent, as well as the requirements that apply to the specific types of transactions where explicit informed consent is mandatory under the code.