Utilities warned to improve billing practices

Energy and water utilities in NSW have been warned to lift their game ahead of the move by New South Wales to full retail competition next year.

The Energy and Water Ombudsman, Clare Petre, has released her annual report, saying that billing issues remain a significant challenge for all providers, particularly electricity.

She says more than 50 per cent of matters of concern raised by customers related to disputed bills, billing errors, problems in paying accounts and disconnections.

Ms Petre says companies get it right most of the time, but when they get it wrong they often do it spectacularly.

"Companies like Integral had a well publicised billing problem...I think that's settling down now and they're really working hard to sort themselves out," she said.

ABC News

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