Gas and electricity consumers will be able to get a better understanding of their rights and the services available to them with the release of new fact sheets by the Australian Energy Regulator.
The fact sheets cover a range of common topics such as:
- How can I save money on my electricity and natural gas bills?
- What happens when I change my electricity or natural gas contract?
- Disconnection and reconnection – your rights and responsibilities
- Network costs for electricity and natural gas
- Moving house and information for tenants
- If you need help paying your electricity and natural gas bills
Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson AM MP encouraged energy consumers to take advantage of this new resource.
“Getting the best possible information is essential to empower energy consumers,” Minister Ferguson said.
“The new fact sheets are an important tool and part of the broader consumer protection work underway with state and territory energy ministers through the Ministerial Council on Energy.
“The more consumers understand their rights and the services available to them, the more electricity and gas businesses will focus on delivering better outcomes for their customers – and that’s good for households, businesses and the economy.”
The Australian Government is also working through the Ministerial Council on Energy (soon to be the Standing Council on Resources and Energy) to develop new national energy consumer protections as part of the National Energy Consumer Framework. The framework simplifies regulation for energy retail businesses, and requires model terms and conditions to apply as part of contracts with energy customers.
Importantly, it requires retailers to put in place hardship policies to help residential customers with payment difficulties. The framework brings a national approach to the regulation of customer protection for energy users, and will reduce costs for energy retailers by standardising the regulatory framework across jurisdictions.
The fact sheets are available at www.aer.gov.au