The Essential Services Commission has refused Astra Green Solutions Pty Ltd’s application to renew its Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) accreditation due to concerns about past conduct.
The VEU program is an energy efficiency program that helps Victorians cut their energy bills by supporting households and businesses to use energy more efficiently.
After assessing Astra Green Solutions’ application to renew its accreditation, the commission is not satisfied that Astra Green Solutions is competent and capable to be accredited under the VEU program.
The commission considered Astra Green Solutions’ compliance history in the VEU program and similar schemes when making its decision, including persistent consumer complaints about its activities and poor complaint handling.
In 2025, the commission penalised Astra Green Solutions $69,231 for allegedly acquiring consumer contact details through unsolicited marketing phone calls, in breach of the ban on cold-call telemarketing in the VEU program.
Businesses must pass fit and proper and competent and capable checks to be accredited under the VEU program and are required to renew their accreditation each year. These checks help protect consumers and support the integrity of the VEU program.
Quotes attributable to Essential Services Commission Chairperson and Commissioner Gerard Brody
“The commission gave significant weight to Astra Green Solutions’ compliance history when making its decision to reject the renewal.”
“Astra Green Solutions’ past action undermined consumer choice and trust in the VEU program, and these must come first.”
“Businesses must remember that accreditation is not a one-off process – they must continue to meet the requirements each year to demonstrate they are suitable for the program.”
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