Utilities Archives - Page 2 of 24 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

28 May , 2024

LG Undertakes to Locate and Fix Dangerous Solar Batteries

LG Energy Solution has provided an enforceable undertaking that it will increase its efforts to alert and protect consumers from faulty LG solar storage batteries which can overheat and catch fire without warning. Since 2020, LG has issued voluntary recalls affecting around 18,000 affected batteries. There have been 15 incidents of property damage caused by the solar…

1 May , 2024

Victoria Bans Energy Cold Callers

The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program has banned cold call telemarketing starting today (1/05/2024) and will ban doorknocking starting 1 August 2024. Below is a media release from the program. About the bans The Victorian Government introduced the bans in response to consumer complaints about problematic telemarketing and doorknocking practices under the program. The bans…

22 April , 2024

Financial Counselling Industry Fund Launches

More Australians will now have access to support from financial counsellors with the launch of the Financial Counselling Industry Fund (FCIF). The FCIF is the result of a collaboration between the financial counselling sector and a number of industries and companies – Australian Banking Association member banks, Australian Energy Council, Energy Networks Australia, Insurance Council…

18 April , 2024

CALD Communities in need of urgent supports for energy transition

A new report released today has found improvements are needed to the quality of advice and supports, and to the service provided by retailers and other energy service providers, or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) consumers risk being left behind in the energy transition. The joint Insights Report by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) and Sydney Community Forum (SCF) is…

19 March , 2024

Energy Consumers Australia Responds to Regulators Draft Default Market Offer

Original media release by and from Energy Consumers Australia (19/03/2024). Energy Consumers Australia CEO Brendan French: “We are pleased that the AER’s draft decision is to reduce the retail margins allowed in the Default Market Offer in recognition of the cost of living demands on consumers. This is something we have called for in our…

8 March , 2024

Consultation for AER on Developing a Toolkit to Identify and Support Vulnerable Consumers

Original text from the AER (8/03/2024). The Australian Energy Regulator is developing a toolkit to help consumer-facing energy businesses identify and engage with consumers experiencing vulnerability. The toolkit has been informed by: It summarises insights from these sources into 6 better practice principles: The toolkit has been designed to help staff at consumer-facing energy businesses…

8 February , 2024

Supermarkets, airlines and power companies are charging ‘exploitative’ prices despite reaping record profits

A lack of transparent pricing information caused a poor understanding by consumers of how prices were set. This was significantly worsened by a lack of competition. While market concentration was a major issue, the inquiry found prices in Australia are way higher than in many other less competitive markets.

Large price increases occurred across many sectors.

6 February , 2024

Compulsory Recall for Dangerous LG Solar Batteries Proposed

Across Australia, 13 incidents of property damage have been linked to the affected batteries, including a house in Victoria that was destroyed.

Following a recommendation by the ACCC, the proposed recall notice was issued by the Assistant Treasurer because it appears to him that LG has not taken satisfactory action to prevent the affected batteries causing injury to any person.

11 December , 2023

Building a Resilient Future – Day 3 of Consumers International Global Congress

A report from our Consumers International Global Congress representative, Deputy Chair Chandni Gupta Final day of the 2023 Global Congress and the pace remained fast and fascinating with enlightening presentations with a key focus on sustainability to close off the conference. Below are some highlights from Day 3. Sustainable appliances for a green transition An…

7 December , 2023

Telstra to Pay $24 million in Penalties and Refunds for Inaccurate Billing

Telstra has paid a $3,010,320 penalty and refunded over $17.7 million to thousands of customers after charging them for inactive internet services over an 11-year period. A further $3.4 million is to be refunded by the end of the year.

An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found that 6,532 customers, the majority of whom were small businesses, were wrongly billed by Telstra an average of around $2,600 between April 2012 and August 2023.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the ACMA has lost patience with Telstra after this series of significant billing errors.

1 December , 2023

Single, Trusted Source for Australian Energy Consumers Needed

A national survey of 2,500 household energy consumers found that 48% of households did not recall seeing anything in the media or online in the last 12 months about how to reduce their energy costs or usage. Those who did recall seeing information often found it complex and irrelevant.

The results show that while households are interested in learning about saving on their energy use and bills, their trust is low in the energy market to provide them with good advice.

1 December , 2023

‘Game changer reforms’ for Vulnerable Consumers will Progress

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has welcomed the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council’s (ECMC) decision to progress work on a proposed package of Game changer reforms that will deliver significant improvements in outcomes for energy consumers experiencing vulnerability.

Under the comprehensive package, consumers would receive concessions they are entitled to and those in hardship would receive their retailer’s best offer to help them lower their bills.