The Northern Territory Government has today passed amendments to the Electricity Reform Act and the Utilities Commission Act that increase protection for customers experiencing financial hardship or domestic and family violence.
The Electricity Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 creates an enabling framework that will support the consumer protection requirements in the Utilities Commission's Electricity Retail Supply Code and provides guidance to the Code's future development.
At the heart of the Electricity Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 are the principles that electricity is an essential service and disconnection of electricity supply for residential customers facing financial hardship or domestic and family violence should be a last resort option.
Customers affected by domestic and family violence face unique safety challenges in their dealings with electricity retailers. For example, vulnerable customers often find it difficult to produce evidence of their circumstances while auto generated communications from retailers may disclose the secure location of a customer impacted by domestic and family violence.
The Territory's strengthened consumer protection framework will:
ensure continuity of supply for residential customers, in the event an electricity retailer fails;assist residential customers facing financial hardship to maintain access to electricity;assist residential customers who are facing domestic violence;meet the needs and circumstances of residential customers requiring life support equipment; andensure retail customers have access to a process for resolving complaints or disputes involving electricity entities.
The legislation also gives NT WorkSafe more time to consult with stakeholders and fine tune the Regulations and policies that will support the Electricity Safety Act that was intended to commence in November of this year.
Attributable to Minister for Essential Services Selena Uibo:
"These amendments are informed and driven by the values of the Territory Labor Government, including protecting Territorians and ensuring everyone has access to reliable and affordable power, no matter what their circumstance.
"Unlike the CLP who hiked power prices by 30% and pushed to sell power assets, we are keeping power prices low while transitioning to a cleaner, greener future for all Territorians.
"Our Territory Labor Government is protecting Territorians from the extreme price rises we have seen down south because we care about the cost of living."
Northern Territory Government
