Ausgrid (NSW) and TasNetworks (TAS) have recently paid penalties to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) totaling $60,000. This follows the issue of infringement notices by the AER in relation to three incidents where customers known to require life support equipment unexpectedly lost electricity supply.
Infringement notice penalties are $20,000 per notice. The AER issued two infringement notices to Ausgrid and one to TasNetworks.
Ausgrid and TasNetworks 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.
