One of Australia’s biggest energy retailers has been ordered to pay $14 million as a penalty for misleading consumers about electricity prices.
EnergyAustralia has admitted it misrepresented the estimated annual price of its electricity for an “average” customer and failed to state the lowest possible price in communications sent to 566,000 people and in 27 electricity offers published online.
All of this was in 2022 when electricity prices were rising and many Australians were trying to switch to cheaper plans.
The Federal Court’s order that EnergyAustralia pay $14 million is one of the biggest penalties levelled against a retailer over electricity prices.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said it was essential that electricity companies provide consumers with accurate information.
“Some consumers may also have been misled by EnergyAustralia’s statements into thinking that a price change was less than it actually was, causing them to stay with their existing plan when in fact a different plan may have represented a better deal,” she said on Thursday.
The electricity giant has apologised to its customers and has agreed to undertake measures to improve its compliance.
EnergyAustralia managing director Mark Collette said once the company became aware it took immediate action, tried to contact every customer impacted and has since improved its governance.
“We are sincerely sorry,” he said.
“We recognise that with the rising cost of living impacting everyone, we must get the right information to our customers.”
Customers with concerns could contact EnergyAustralia’s team, Collette said.
Energy retailer Dodo was ordered to pay more than $825,000 for breaching rules on late customer payments in early September.
-AAP
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