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Information for Small Businesses

Customer Protection: Guaranteed service standards
Your electricity and gas company must meet minimum standards of service or they have to compensate you.

These guaranteed minimum standards, which are set by the NSW Government, are aimed at providing householders with a safe and reliable energy supply. They will remain in place once householders are able to choose their energy retailer from 1 January 2002.

These standards cover both the retailing of electricity and gas as well as the delivery of energy to your home. The standards must be included in your energy company's contracts.

The guaranteed minimum standards apply to all energy companies operating in NSW and include:
  • An electricity company must provide you with the date they will connect power to your home. If they don't meet that date, they must pay you $60 compensation for each day they are late to a maximum of $300.
     
  • The distribution network service provider must give at least two business days notice of a planned interruption to your electricity supply. If they don't give adequate notice or the interruption is longer than indicated, the company must pay you at least $20.

    However, there may be instances where the company needs to interrupt your power supply to carry out urgent work on the electricity network, such as during storms, or on the gas network. In these circumstances, the network business does not need to notify you of any power cuts or offer compensation.
     
  • If your gas or electricity company is more than 15 minutes late for an appointment, they must pay you at least $25.
     
  • You must be able to telephone your electricity company at any time to receive notice of - or report - faults and difficulties with the electricity network. Customers must also be able to call the company during business hours to discuss their bill and connection services.
     
  • Customer contracts must also set out minimum standards of service that businesses undertake to provide to the customer, such as the:
     
    • quality and reliability of services;
       
    • response times to customer enquiries;
       
    • details of relevant government-funded rebates or relief schemes; and
       
    • details of any payment plan.

Want more information?

A free booklet explaining the choices available to you will be in your letterbox in early 2002. The booklet will contain information you will find useful if you decide to shop around for the best deal on your energy. You may also call our information line on 1300 136 888.


Related Topics

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    • Electricity/Gas suppliers to contact
    • Standard Suppliers

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Streetlights and Unmetered supply

Supplying gas and electricity on the NSW border

Glossary

Download Booklet: "Until now, you've had no choice where you bought your electricity and gas"
      
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Need further information? Call the info line 1300 136 888 or email us at maiorana@energy.nsw.gov.au

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