Feedback sought on home electricity disconnection and reconnection

The Queensland Government wants feedback on how to improve the electricity disconnection and reconnection process when customers move from residence to another – all aimed at saving residents more time and money.

Minister for Energy and Water Supply Mark McArdle has released a discussion paper examining some of the cost, efficiency and customer convenience issues associated with move-in move-out for residential electricity supply.

Mr McArdle said reconnecting residential premises that had been disconnected from the electricity supply could be inconvenient and costly for households, particularly if they wanted to move in and organise reconnection on a weekend.

“If a family moves into a disconnected residence on a weekend, they may not be able to get the premises reconnected until the next business day. And, if they do want to organise reconnection on the weekend, it can cost about $100,” he said.

Mr McArdle said the discussion paper ‘Customer move-in move-out (MIMO) process for residential premises in Queensland’ also looked at two broad regulatory options which could improve the move-in move-out process – and potentially save residents and distributors time and money.

“These options involve leaving the electricity connected to a residence for a short time after a customer moves out. This has the potential to reduce the number of disconnections being performed and address cost, convenience and efficiency issues with the current process,” he said.

“I’m interested in getting feedback from industry, consumer advocacy groups and consumers about the existing process and whether regulatory changes could improve customer convenience, increase efficiency and balance costs more equitably.”

Mr McArdle said there were also cost and efficiency improvement opportunities for electricity distributors who were often asked to reconnect residential premises not long after disconnecting them.

About 91,000 disconnections were performed by Energex in 2010-11.

The discussion paper is available on the website www.deedi.qld.gov.au/energy/276.htm and on the Queensland Government’s Get involved website www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi/consultation/532/view.html

Submissions close on 6 August 2012 and can be made electronically to the Department of Energy and Water Supply via email nemr@deedi.qld.gov.au; or mailed to:

MIMO Submissions
Energy Sector Reform
Department of Energy and Water Supply
PO Box 15168
City East Queensland 4002

[ENDS] 12 July 2012

MEDIA CONTACT: Minister’s Office 3896 3690