EWOSA News - October 2019

Residential consumers continue the trend towards installing and operating solar PV. At this time of year, when solar panels are operating at their optimum and households are using less energy, we expect to see an associated rise in complaints. Generally, these complaints relate to inverters turning on and off due to high voltages, which may be caused either by issues with the customer’s inverter or on the network side (due to high voltage input from solar panels). More information can be found on the SA Power Networks website here.

Last quarter, this newsletter highlighted some welcome progress in metering installation timeframes. Unfortunately, the issue has not completely resolved, and we continue to see a number of complaints associated with installation of new meters and solar meters, as well as replacement of faulty meters. EWOSA is continuing to work with our members and the Australian Energy Regulator to deliver further improvements in metering installation timeframes.

EWOSA is engaged in developing our position on the transforming energy and water markets and what this means for independent dispute resolution. It is critical that Schemes like ours remain fit for purpose in 2030 – able to respond to changes like the advent of smart technologies. EWOSA has joined with the other Australian and New Zealand Energy and Water Ombudsman Schemes to research how best the Schemes can respond.

Moving on from market transformation, management of customers in payment difficulty continues to be a source of major concern. The Australian Energy Regulator has introduced the Customer Hardship Policy Guideline and new retailer hardship policies were due to be in place by 2 October 2019. We expect to see some improvements for vulnerable customers as a result of this Guideline but remain concerned that a number of customers with high levels of debt will continue to fall through the cracks. We plan to closely monitor this issue.

On the inside working of EWOSA, implementation of the KPMG advice to improve our investigation and facilitation processes has resulted in reduced case handling times. We are also well underway with testing to deliver advanced web services to our members.

Sandy Canale

Energy and Water Ombudsman SA

Customers getting estimated bills should consider meter self reads

Retailers sometimes issue bills based on estimated meter reads due to meter access issues. Estimated reads can expose customers to significant under- or overcharging.

The Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy successfully proposed a rule change last year to make it easier for customers to provide their own reading of an electricity or gas meter to their retailer.

If a customer has received an estimated bill and does not have a smart meter or solar power, then it is possible to submit their own meter reading. The customer will need to lodge their reading of the meter with their retailer before the due date for payment of the existing estimated bill.

There are different ways to read a meter dependent on whether the meter is:

• clock faced
• cyclonic
• digital

Search “customer reading meter” online for instructions on how to self read meters or contact your provider.

Converting information into a computer readable format is set to revolutionise the energy sector

We are all familiar with the transformation of the music industry from records and tapes to DVD’s and computer formats. This is the type of change which is starting to rock the energy sector.

Some projections are that the utility customer of the future will have a very different relationship with their utility, possibly through a “smart home platform”. Deloitte has discussed some of the products and services which may be offered through these platforms, such as sensors, smart meters, analytics, smart appliances, direct transactions between customers, solar, storage and microgrids.

The energy system is also set to be more connected, intelligent and efficient due to digital technologies. For example, the IEA has reported that renewable energy will be more integrated through improved weather forecasts, sensors on windmills and smart appliances and vehicles. Likewise, sensors and smarter analytics will improve efficiency and lower costs.

As the Ombudsman reports in this newsletter, it will be critical to ensure that independent dispute resolution remains fit for purpose with increasing digitisation.

Sources:

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/power-and-utilities/digital-transformation-utility-of-the-future.html

https://www.iea.org/digital/

A major milestone of SA Water’s customer conversations over the last three years will occur in late October

SA Water has recently engaged with more than 6,000 customers in a variety of different ways to better understand their customers’ expectations. This included intensive sessions with a Customer Negotiation Committee established under the framework provided by the Essential Services Commission of South Australia.

SA Water established that there are six areas of importance for their customers:

• low and stable prices
• safe, clean drinking water
• minimal interruptions
• support, fairness and great customer service
• protecting the environment
• supporting the South Australian community and economy.

SA Water has built a business plan around these themes and it will be released in late October 2019.

Source:

https://watertalks.sawater.com.au/wouldyouinvest

Changes are afoot to ensure that all customers of small-scale service providers have a consistent avenue to independent dispute resolution

The regulatory regime for small-scale networks is under review. As part of a Framework and Approach Paper, the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (the Commission) considered different options for the regulation of small-scale networks. Requiring all small-scale service providers to be members of EWOSA was common across all options.

The Commission has reported that given the essential nature of the services, it is important for customers to have access to an independent dispute resolution body. EWOSA’s capability to resolve disputes between a service provider and a customer is highlighted. EWOSA is also noted as being able to provide a consistent and reliable source of complaint information.

In the event that small-scale service providers are incorporated in to EWOSA, this is likely to be a smooth process, given the work already done to include embedded networks with residential customers as members of the Scheme.

Source:

https://www.escosa.sa.gov.au/news/inquiry-news/small-scale-networks-inquiry-framework-and-approach

Utility: Water

Customer Type: Residential

Case Type: Facilitation

Mr S received two consecutive bills which were higher than expected. Both bills were based on actual readings obtained from his water meter.

Mr S lives on his own and is a concession card holder.

Outcome:

An independent review of the bills confirmed that Mr S was billed according to usage recorded on the meter. Mr S was advised that he could arrange a leakage test and if he had any further concerns that the retailer would remove the meter and have it bench tested for accuracy. The retailer offered payment assistance under their hardship program.

Utility: Electricity

Customer Type: Business

Case Type: Facilitation

Business A changed retailers due to a better offer. The offer did not eventuate as envisaged so Business A changed back to its original retailer. 6 months later, Business A had charges from both retailers for the same time period. As Business A did not pay the charge from one retailer, it was default listed by that retailer.

Outcome:

Business A had one set of charges cancelled and the default listing removed.

Checking your insurance may be prudent in case a power surge arises

A power surge is a short duration power variation (rise) which is transient and typically last for less than several milliseconds. They can cause damage to sensitive electrical equipment and may be caused by equipment within your property or events associated with the operation of the electricity distribution network. They may also be caused by natural events such as lightning strikes and other weather events.

On most occasions the events that cause power surges are beyond the reasonable ability of SA Power Networks to prevent. SA Power Networks will meet its legal obligations to compensate customers. These obligations are set out in each customer’s ongoing connection contract. Generally, SA Power Networks is only required to provide compensation to customers when it is at fault, such as when it has been negligent or acted in bad faith. The amount of compensation can depend on the depreciated value (ie. the age) of the damaged electrical equipment.

Customers may wish to discuss their needs with a licensed electrical contractor to assess protection of their appliances and electrical installation by installing surge protection. Additionally, customers may wish to review their home and contents insurance policy to ensure they are suitably covered for such an event.

Source:

SA Power Networks

It is important to wait for the right time to start using your solar PV system

It is a requirement of the Electricity Act and National Electricity Law that all solar systems connected to a distribution network must meet certain technical and safety standards and be fitted with a bi-directional meter (import/export meter) that can measure two-way energy flows. Customers or their appointed solar installer must not turn on their solar system prior to the installation of an import/export meter. If they do, the existing meter may be unable to accurately measure consumption, which could result in an estimated and often more expensive bill. There is no obligation on a retailer to adjust the billing where a solar system has been switched on before the correct metering has been installed.

Source:

SA Power Networks

High winter bills can be a prompt to switch energy providers

Weather has a massive impact on energy use and therefore the size of many customer bills. Using more lights, clothes dryers and heaters in the short, cold days of winter can result in bill shock post winter.

There are a number of things customers can do to help manage these higher bills:

• contact their retailer, advise that they are in payment difficulty and ask to be put on to a payment plan
• shop around for a better deal. The introduction of the reference price on 1 July 2019 has made it easier to see if a customer is getting the best deal for their particular energy needs
• check out optimum temperature ranges for your heating (and cooling appliances). Ideally, heating will be within the 19 – 20 degree range (air conditioner)
• contact the Energy Advisory Service for advice of the most efficient way to manage energy in the home
• there may be circumstances in which a financial counsellor would be helpful to you – if so, contact 1800 007 007

The number of cases per 10,000 customers for each supplier is calculated by dividing the number of cases received during the quarter by the total number of customers for each supplier, multiplied by 10,000. Large Suppliers are those with over 100,000 customers, Medium-sized Suppliers have between 10,000 and 100,000 customers, Small Suppliers have between 1,000 and 10,000 customers and Very Small Suppliers have less than 1,000 customers. The total number of cases is also presented for context.