Media centre
An important message regarding media enquiries
EWON's mandate is to provide a fair and independent dispute resolution service for consumers and utility providers. To meet this obligation, the Ombudsman is not able to comment on individual people, companies or investigations, as this may compromise the privacy of consumers who come to EWON with their complaints, and/or unfairly advantage or disadvantage commercially competitive companies.
The Ombudsman is not able to comment on government policy (which is out of EWON's jurisdiction). However, the Ombudsman welcomes public and open discussion on systemic issues affecting consumers in relation to the energy and water industries.
Public information about utility issues and consumer complaints is available through EWON publications, in particular our submissions, annual reports and newsletters.
Media enquiries
Kate Concannon, Phone (02) 8218 5206 Mobile 0406 306 447 katec@ewon.com.au
Media Releases
- 2011: Urgent consumer warning on 'power-savers'
New South Wales Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts and Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW Clare Petre are warning customers to be wary of telemarketers selling energy saving devices...[read on] - 2011: Switching to save money on power bills
Consumers looking to save money on their power bills by switching retailers are urged to proceed carefully. Clare Petre, Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW, expects energy marketing to increase over the coming months, and warns customers to read the fine print before they agree to switch energy retailers...[read on] - 2010: Upward trend in energy and water complaints continues
The 2009-2010 financial year saw the Energy - & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) finalise 15,048 customer complaints, a 43% increase from the previous year (up from 10,520 cases)...[read on]
- 2009: High utility bills – what can customers do?
Complaints to the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) about high utility bills continue to increase and billing issues currently represent 40% of customer complaints ...[read on] - 2009: Ombudsman reports billing problems people can’t afford
The Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) released their Annual Report 2008-2009 which shows customer complaints are on the rise with 10,520 cases finalised this year, an 18% increase from the previous year. The primary reason for customer complaints was billing, and EWON received 5547 complaints about a range of billing issues...[read on] - 2008: Energy and water customers struggling to pay their bills
The Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) Annual Report 2007-2008 shows utility complaints are on the rise, with the agency closing 8913 cases last year, a 3% increase from the previous year...[read on] - 2007: Ombudsman receives its highest number of energy and water complaints
The Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) handled 8641 complaints last year, a 13% increase from the previous year and the highest number of complaints since it began nine years ago. Released today, EWON’s Annual Report 2006–2007 shows that for the first time, customers complained more about retail competition issues than billing or credit...[read on] - 2007: Checked your energy bill lately? A message to small business owners and strata schemes
Clare Petre, Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW urges all small business owners and strata schemes to check their electricity and gas bills at the end of the financial year, following a number of complaints to her office from commercial customers...[read on]
