Attendees at today's SACOSS Conference will hear warnings about the increased risk of electricity disconnections in South Australia with the roll-out of smart meters which enable disconnections to be made remotely instead of during site visits.
SACOSS is today hosting a conference bringing together leaders from the energy, water and telecommunications sectors, including policy makers, business leaders, regulators, non-profit organisations and community service providers, to focus on improving affordability and our responses to vulnerable consumers.
SACOSS CEO Ross Womersley says, “Energy, water and telecommunications are essential services and prices are still much higher than they should be. There are still far too many people who run into trouble trying to maintain access to these vital basic services. Too many people are being disconnected or simply cannot afford to maintain these basic services.”
Keynote speaker at the Conference, Gavin Dufty from St Vincent de Paul, revealed recent research which highlighted the risk of increasing disconnections as smart meters are rolled out in South Australia.
Mr Dufty says, “As smart meters roll out, and the system is automated, we will see an increasing number of completed disconnections. This trend is being experienced in Victoria and has resulted in more people being disconnected*.
“Key recommendations from a detailed analysis of disconnections include introducing percentage-based concessions and a wrongful disconnection payment to ensure retailers follow the rules. These protections are essential to support affordability for this essential service and to minimise fat fingered moments from retailers in a smart meter environment.”
SACOSS CEO Ross Womersley says, “It is essential that we get the right protections and concessions in place to support South Australian households as we move into the new energy future. Protecting the most vulnerable from price shocks and technology advances has to be a high priority.
“This Conference is about the consequences for real people of changes in the market and the responsibility all stakeholders have to work together to address the difficulties people are facing. This is a shared responsibility – and this is why this conference will have industry, government and the community sector working on solutions to tackle the many layers to people’s experience of vulnerability.”
Gavin Dufty is scheduled to speak at today's 12.45pm session called Consumer Spotlight, together with Jo de Silva, SACOSS Senior Policy Officer.
Download the full conference program, including list of presenters here
SACOSS Vulnerability and Afordability Conference
When: Wednesday 2 November, 9-4.15pm
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Magarey Room
* for more information on disconnections in Vic following the roll-out of smart meters, please refer to the St Vincent de Paul report "Households in the Dark".
For further information/ or comment, contact:
Ross Womersley SACOSS CEO 0418 805 426
Gavin Dufty, Manager Policy and Research, St Vincent de Paul, 0439 357 129
Tania Baxter SACOSS Communications Officer 0432 902 105