Don't pay too much for gas and electricity

Published: September 30, 2008 - 10:20 AM

Victorian energy suppliers bill bungles

By Lesley Coombes

Households are reminded to be vigilant when dealing with their gas and electricity providers after The Age reported Sunday that thousands of Victoria electricity and gas customers had billing mix-ups and were kept waiting on the phone for hours with their complaints.

Fiona McLeod, Victoria’s Energy and Water Ombudsman, (EWOV), who holds “the power to investigate and resolve disputes between Victorian consumers and their electricity, gas and water companies” (EWOV website) found a majority of complaints were against the gas and electricity suppliers, AGL and Origin Energy.

The Ombudsman received 14, 759 complaints against gas and electricity suppliers between January and June 2008 with 9348 against electricity supplies and 3701 against gas supplies with many being in regard to electricity and gas billing errors.

David Power of ShopAround.com.au says that this case of billing errors may “prompt Victorians to become more consumer proactive and to be vigilant in what the gas and electricity suppliers are doing. All of these administration problems will hopefully prompt people in households and small businesses to take a more proactive role in comparing gas companies and electricity suppliers. ShopAround.com.au offers an efficient gas and electricity comparison site for those who want to compare Victoria electricity and gas prices.”

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