Electricity distribution business, Ergon Energy Corporation Ltd (Ergon Energy), has paid penalties totalling $40 000 following the issue of infringement notices by the AER in relation to two incidents where customers known to require life support equipment unexpectedly lost electricity supply.
Infringement notice penalties are $20 000 per notice.
Ergon Energy reported these incidents 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.