Electricity distribution business Ausgrid has paid a penalty of $20 000 following the issue of an infringement notice by the AER in relation to an incident where a customer known to require life support equipment unexpectedly lost electricity supply.
Ausgrid reported this incident to the AER pursuant to their reporting obligations under the National Energy Retail Law and National Energy Retail Rules.
The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the National Energy Retail Rules. The AER can issue an infringement notice where it has reason to believe a business has contravened a civil penalty provision of the Retail Rules.