More than 500 Brimbank residents turned to the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV) over the past year to settle their utility grievances.
A total of 522 complaints and queries from Brimbank residents were lodged in 2014. More than 41 per cent of complaints related to energy disconnections or water restrictions, or their imminent cut-off.
Two further issues plaguing Brimbank residents were debt collection (198 cases) or repayment difficulties (109).
In the second half of 2013, 341 Brimbank households had gas, electricity or water turned off or struggled to pay bills. In the second half of last year, there had been a decline in equivalent cases, to 270.
Energy and water ombudsman Cynthia Gebert said the most recent report showed credit complaints had increased by 207 per cent in five years.
“The community-wide issue of energy and water affordability is highly concerning,” Ms Gebert said.
“[It] requires changes to industry practice and greater collaboration between industry, regulators, government and the community sector.”
Ms Gebert urged customers to contact energy or water companies as soon as possible if they are experiencing financial hardship and can’t pay bills.
“If customers have attempted and failed to resolve their issue directly with their company, then EWOV may be able to assist.”
