From 1 January 2005, the Electricity Retail Code and the Gas Retail Code were integrated into one Energy Code. The new Energy Code regulates your rights and obligations when dealing with electricity and gas companies including your rights when you are having payment difficulties.
What should you do if you cannot afford your electricity or gas bill?
- Tell your retailer that you are having payments difficulties and ask for information about concessions, Utility Relief Grants, energy efficiency and the availability of financial counsellors in your area. Your retailer must provide you with this information.
- Ask for a payment plan that you can afford. Your retailer must offer you a plan by which you can pay your bill by instalments (unless you have already been on two or more instalments plans in the last year and you did not stick to them). Your retailer must take into account what you can afford to pay each week or fortnight. Not just what they want you to pay.
- You may be entitled to a concession if you hold a Pensioner or Health Care Card. For further information on a possible concession entitlement go to the Victorian Department of Human Services website - www.dhs.vic.gov.au. You may be entitled to a one-off Utility Relief Grant (URG) to help you pay your current bill. Ask your retailer how to apply for a URG
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