Pensioner receives $32,000 electricity bill from Simply Energy
A PENSIONER received a $32,000 quarterly electricity bill - after putting solar panels on her roof to cut her energy costs.
A PENSIONER received a $32,000 quarterly electricity bill - after putting solar panels on her roof to cut her energy costs.
But this wasn't the only mistake made by Simply Energy, as it also forgot to credit the southern suburbs' resident with her $40 pensioner rebate.
"Lucky they didn't make this mistake with an elderly person or they may have had a heart attack," Carmel, 60, who did not want to give her surname, said.
"I couldn't fit enough hydro plants in here to generate that type of bill."
The astronomical mistake comes after The Advertiser recently reported a record 14,000 plus complaints about energy retailers had been made to the Energy Ombudsman last financial year.
The Simply Energy bill, seen by adelaidenow, said Carmel owed $32,759 for electricity use between June 2 and September 3 but qualified for a 12 per cent - or $3931 - discount for "prompt payment".
It also noted the previous quarterly bill for her two bedroom house - prior to putting in the solar system in July - was $320.
Carmel was shocked to receive the astronomical bill yesterday, which came after she had complained last week to the Energy Ombudsman that the bill was late in being sent out despite her phoning the retailer several times.
"I phoned the company and got a return call a manager who laughingly said 'we have something to sort out'," Carmel, a disabled pensioner, said.
"But it's no laughing matter and I wonder how many smaller mistakes are being made and people are paying more than they should?"
Energy Ombudsman Sandy Canale said the mistake was among the biggest ever seen at his office since it was established almost a decade ago.
"It's pretty rare to see bills of that quantum," he said yesterday. "Generally bills outside the normal parameter are picked up by retailers before being sent out so I'm surprised this bill went out."
Mr Canale said he would "make sure" the mistake with Carmel's bill was resolved.
Simply Energy has admitted its mistake, which it said was "regrettable'.
It has withdrawn the bill and investigating the cause of the error.
A company spokesman said: "Simply Energy has spoken (to Carmel) and apologised for any inconvenience experienced as a result of receiving this bill."