Developers are locking customers into inflated energy prices they can't escape from for years

Embedded networks allow for the bulk purchase of energy – electricity, gas, or water - from an energy retailer usually at a discount.

The numbers of embedded networks are growing rapidly and being installed in apartment blocks, caravan parks, retirement villages, and also for commercial tenants in shopping centres.

But Professor of Law at Macquarie University, Cathy Sherry, says many owners and tenants are getting locked into an embedded network and forced to pay well above ordinary retail rates for their power and water because of cosy deals developers are making with suppliers.