The Federal Government has set up a new body - Energy Consumers Australia – which is aimed at increasing consumer advocacy for national energy policies.

The formation of Energy Consumers Australia came from a recent COAG Energy Council summit, and has been jointly launched by Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane and South Australian Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Tom Koutsantonis.

Long-time consumer advocate Louise Sylvan will chair a five person board that brings together experience from the worlds of consumer protection and advocacy, energy markets and regulation.

“Energy users will now be able to engage on issues like the price, quality, safety, reliability and security of supply of energy services in a more meaningful way,” Mr Macfarlane said.

As former CEO of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency, a former Productivity Commission member and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission deputy chair, Ms Sylvan is well qualified to chair the new board as it seeks to the organisation and provides much-needed national focus on issues important to energy consumers.

Ms Sylvan will be joined by Steven Graham, Catherine Cooper, Clare Petre and Gillian Owen.

“Energy Consumers Australia will build its own in-house research and advocacy capabilities to explore emerging issues of strategic importance to energy consumers, particularly households and small business,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“The board will work closely with consumer advocates, ombudsman, industry, regulators and governments to build a collegiate approach to advocacy across the country.”

Biographies of members and further information on Energy Consumers Australia is available on the COAG Energy Council website.