Energy retailer Dodo has been ordered to fork out more than $825,000 for breaching Victorian energy rules on late payments to almost 1000 customers.
Between May 2022 and February 2024, the Essential Services Commission found Dodo failed to credit 1325 guaranteed service-level payments to customers within required time frames.
This resulted in late payments to 978 customers that totalled more than $130,000.
Of the total $825,472 in penalties, the energy retailer was penalised $750,026 for its failure to make payments to customers within the required time frames.
It fronted up another $75,446 for its alleged failure to self-report breaches to the commission.
Essential Services Commission chair Gerard Brody said time frames for retailers aim to protect customers from the inconvenience of guaranteed service levels not being met.
"It was unacceptable for Dodo Power & Gas to delay making guaranteed service level payments to customers," he said.
"Particularly given current cost-of-living pressures faced by Victorian consumers and because these payments can help to reduce customer bills and arrears."
A spokesperson for Vocus, the telco giant which owns Dodo, said the company had co-operated with the Essential Services Commission.
"We can confirm that M2 Energy (which trades as Dodo Power & Gas) has accepted and paid penalty notices," they said.
In Victoria, guaranteed service levels cover events such as low supply reliability or delayed connections.
When a distributor fails to meet the guaranteed service levels, they must make guaranteed service level payments to affected customers within a prescribed time frame.
