Origin 'named and shamed' for failing to pass on lower electricity prices

Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has publicly "named and shamed" Origin Energy, accusing the company of failing to pass on lower electricity prices to consumers. Janetzki stated that households in southeast Queensland should be seeing reduced power bills, not increases, following a new benchmark pricing structure released by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).

“

That's not what they ought to be doing.

The AER's new pricing framework, implemented last month, was designed to reduce household electricity costs by as much as 7.2 percent in the region. However, Janetzki revealed he had seen correspondence to Origin customers indicating significant price hikes. "That's not what they ought to be doing," he asserted, adding that Origin appeared to be the first retailer not acting responsibly.

Janetzki emphasized that the AER determination made it clear prices should decrease, and consumers and businesses should benefit from systemic power price reductions. He contrasted Origin's actions with the state government's directive to Ergon, a state-controlled energy provider, to fully pass on savings to its regional customers, up to 6.9 percent for households and 8.1 percent for businesses.

“

It's important that when systemic power prices go down, consumers, businesses, should receive them.

The treasurer accused energy retailers of "playing games" and dismissed any excuses for increasing one charge to offset another, especially after customers reported confusion regarding rate increases. "I want to see savings in households and businesses’s pockets, not lining big corporate's," Janetzki declared. He announced plans to request the Queensland Competition Authority to investigate and monitor energy prices.

“

I want to see savings in households and businesses’s pockets, not lining big corporate's.