CitiPower pays $406,824 in penalties for allegedly failing to notify customers of planned power interruptions

CitiPower Pty Ltd (CitiPower) has paid $406,824 in penalties after allegedly failing to notify 43 customers of two separate planned power interruptions in Brunswick and Carlton between January and March 2023. One of the affected customers was a registered user of life support equipment.

An investigation by the Essential Services Commission found evidence that CitiPower had allegedly breached Victoria’s energy laws that require distributors to provide customers with written notice at least four business days before a planned power interruption.

Commissioner Sitesh Bhojani says the failure to notify affected customers was a serious breach of the energy rules in place to protect consumers. 

“These matters involve two separate failings by CitiPower to notify customers of planned interruptions to electricity during a three-month period. The outages affected 43 customers, including one who relied on electricity for life support equipment,” Commissioner Bhojani said.

“Victoria has robust laws in place to protect consumers from planned interruptions to their power supply without notice. Protections for Victorian customers who require life support equipment are among the most critically important obligations that the commission administers.”

This is the second time the commission has taken enforcement action against CitiPower for alleged breaches of planned interruption obligations. CitiPower paid penalties for similar conduct in 2019. 

“It is unacceptable that customers relying on the supply of electricity from energy businesses are not notified with sufficient time to plan around the interruption, particularly for those who require life support equipment,” said Commissioner Bhojani.

The commission remains committed to closely monitoring energy businesses for compliance with Victoria’s energy laws and will not hesitate to act when there is evidence of non-compliance. 

The commission may issue penalty notices where it has reason to believe a business has contravened a civil penalty requirement. Payment of a penalty notice is not an admission of a contravention of a civil penalty requirement.