THE Federal Court has ordered AGL South Australia to pay penalties of $700,000 and to offer refunds of about $780,000 to 23,000 consumers for making false or misleading representations about the level of discount residential consumers would receive under their energy plans.
In proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, The court found that consumers, who commenced a discounted electricity plan with AGL SA between January and mid-July 2012 as a result of making a telephone call to AGL SA, would have understood that under these plans they would be charged at a discount off the rates that generally applied to other residential consumers like themselves.
Although these consumers initially received the represented discount, in mid-2012 AGL increased the rates under its energy plans.
The court heard a letter was sent to these consumers advising them of their new rates, stating AGL SA would continue to receive their discount, when that was not the case. This was because, following the rate increase, their rates before the discount was applied were higher than the rates for those consumers who were supplied under AGL SA’s standard retail contract or those consumers who had subsequently commenced an energy plan with AGL SA.
AGL SA was ordered to offer refunds to those consumers who paid more under their energy plan than they would have done if they had been on AGL SA’s standard retail contract. AGL SA estimates that refunds will be offered to about 23,000 consumers and will in total exceed approximately $780,000.
“Power bills are a significant cost for consumers, and discounted energy plans are attractive because of the opportunity to limit these costs,” ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said.
“These plans can therefore provide a competitive advantage to energy retailers.
“However, the discounts on offer must be accurate, and the express or implied savings real for consumers.”
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