Victorians struggling as pain of energy, water bills grows

VICTORIANS are reporting thousands of disputes against energy or water companies accused of failing to help them with payment problems, and those living in the country are finding it particularly tough.

VICTORIANS are reporting thousands of disputes against energy or water companies accused of failing to help them with payment problems.

Those living in the country are finding it particularly tough, with several rural and regional areas identified as “affordability case hot spots” in an Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria audit.

Residents in Latrobe, Greater Shepparton, Wodonga and the Pyrenees had the highest rates of complaints and inquiries regarding payment struggles last year, records show.

Melton, an area burdened with significant home loan stress, rounded out the top five.

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Energy and Water Ombudsman Ombudsman Cynthia Gebert said hot spots for energy and water bill pain tended to be areas of ‘relative ­disadvantage’.

Statewide overall, EWOV dealt with 8022 credit cases covering disconnections and water restrictions, payment difficulties and debt collection last year — more than 150 a week.

Ombudsman Cynthia Gebert said hot spots for energy and water bill pain tended to be areas of “relative ­disadvantage”.

“Regional areas tend to have higher fixed energy supply charges, which makes it more difficult for customers to control their costs,” Ms Gebert said.

She urged people having trouble paying bills to contact retailers as soon as possible because businesses were required to offer help, such as payment plans.

Examples of credit cases the Ombudsman’s office has handled include:

A WOMAN with an electricity and gas debt of $7000 was threatened with disconnection after struggling to meet fortnightly payments.

An investigation determined an affordable plan; and

A CONCESSION cardholder given a bad credit rating despite not being advised of a $374 electricity debt. The company agreed to remove the default listing and waive the debt.

The dispute resolution service calculated the number of credit cases per 1000 residents for Victorian municipalities.

Top council areas for actual or imminent electricity or gas disconnection or water restriction issues were Wodonga, Latrobe, Wangaratta, Greater Shepparton and Benalla.

Payment difficulty case rates were highest in Hindmarsh, Latrobe, Ballarat, Greater Shepparton and the Pyrenees.

Debt collection gripes and queries were dominant in Loddon, Greater Shepparton, Melton, Cardinia and the Pyrenees.

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@KarenCollierHS