Alinta Energy has been hit with a $200,000 fine for putting vulnerable customers at risk.

The company was issued with 10 infringement notices by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) after admitting that on more than 1,500 occasions it breached the requirements around the registration of life support customers.

“This placed these customers at risk of having their power disconnected. The AER also accepted a court enforceable undertaking from Alinta Energy,” AER chair Clare Savage said.

“While no customers were disconnected – vulnerable customers did not receive this important protection which could have dangerous and even fatal consequences.

“Retailers have a responsibility to act in the interests of their customers and support their most vulnerable customers. Compliance with these important protections is essential.”

Between February 2019 and February 2020, Alinta Energy breached the life support provisions of the Retail Rules in NSW, Queensland, and South Australia by failing to:

  • register customers’ premises as requiring life support equipment after receiving advice from the customer
  • provide information packs within five business days to customers who had registered their life support equipment requirements with either Alinta Energy or their relevant distributor
  • notify the energy distributor that customers residing at premises required life support equipment
  • provide a de-registration notice to customers as required prior to de-registering the customer

Alinta Energy has implemented some corrective actions including engaging an independent auditor to conduct an end-to-end review of its life support systems and processes.

Alinta Energy has implemented a Compliance Improvement Action Plan and in line with the enforceable undertaking it will be subject to an independent audit.

The Retail Rules require energy retailers and distributors to keep a register of all customers who use life support equipment to protect them from disconnection. This register must be kept up to date and customers should only be removed from the register where life support equipment is no longer required.