Billing & Payment

Smart Energy Retail Hardship Policy

 

1. Introduction

Energy suppliers provide essential services in our society, and at Smart Energy we recognise that avoiding disconnection from these services - where practically possible - is both necessary and the right thing to do by our customers.

With this in mind, Smart Energy understands that sometimes customers who want to pay their energy bills can temporarily be in a position where they are unable to do so, and Smart Energy will work with customers on a case-by-case basis to assist where we are able. Financial hardship can occur to anyone at any time and, at Smart Energy, we will work with our customers to continue supply of essential services in such circumstances. As an energy retailer, Smart Energy will:

  • In dealing with a customer who is experiencing payment difficulties due to hardship, take into account all of the circumstances of the customer of which we are aware and, having regard to those circumstances, act fair and reasonably, and
  • In a timely manner when it is relevant to do so, including on being contacted by a customer, give a customer clear information about the assistance available to the customer under the Smart Energy Retail customer hardship policy, and
  • As soon as practicable, provide a customer who is entitled to receive assistance under the customer hardship policy with that assistance.

Smart Energy Retail has adopted the AER’s Sustainable Payment Plans Framework as a good practice framework for assessing customers’ capacity to pay.

This policy applies to all residential customers living in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory who find it hard to pay their energy bills due to hardship.
You might experience hardship because of factors like:

  • Death in the family
  • Household illness
  • Family violence
  • Unemployment
  • Reduced income

This policy explains:

  • What we will do to help you manage your energy bills
  • How we consider your circumstances and needs
  • Your rights as a customer in our hardship program

You can ask a support person or a ‘Customer Representative’ to contact us, such as:

  • A financial counsellor
  • Someone who helps you manage your energy bills.

We will engage with them as we would with you and keep you fully across all communications and interactions. We need your permission to talk to your support person.

This ‘Customer Representative’ is a person you have appointed and delegated to deal with us, on your behalf, with some authority over your account. An ‘Advocate’ is a person you have appointed to deal with us, on your behalf, but without any authority over your account.

You can authorise a 3rd party to speak on your behalf. You can either call or write to us with the following details:

  • Authorised person’s name
  • Contact number
  • Date of birth
  • How long the authority is for

If you wish to nominate a support person, simply give us your permission by calling or emailing us. If you want us to stop using a nominated support person or financial counsellor, simply let us know by calling or emailing us.

We have appropriate systems in place to enable us to meet the obligations we have with respect to customer hardship in:

  • The Retail Law
  • The Retail Rules
  • AER Customer Hardship Policy Guideline March 2019, and
  • This Hardship Policy

The following principles underline this policy:

  • Energy is an essential service and Smart Energy values the fact that you trust us to supply energy as a retailer.
  • You are the ultimate stakeholders and Smart Energy intends to tailor its service to your needs and circumstances.
  • Smart Energy will continually seek ways to be of assistance in terms of services, expertise and connections. Where helpful, you will be referred to an interpreter service.
  • You will be dealt with respectfully, with understanding and fairly.
  • We will assist you to reduce the energy usage without affecting you financially or personally or reducing the standards of living.
  • Smart Energy will carry out its Hardship Program fairly, consistently and transparently.

 

2. Eligibility and process for acceptance

To be eligible to enter the Customer Hardship Support Program, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a current residential customer account with us; and
  • Be experiencing short- or long-term hardship

     

The process for acceptance in our Hardship Program is as follows:

  • Contact must be made with one of our customer service representatives
  • Our customer service representative will verify that you are a current residential customer of ours through a standard verification
  • If the customer is experiencing short - or long-term hardship, the customer will be asked if they accept to commit to making payments according to an agreed payment plan and will be asked to inform us if you are unable to meet the payment conditions
  • They will ask that you stay in touch to keep us informed of any changes to your circumstances
  • If you answer yes to these questions then you will be accepted into our Hardship Program
  • If you have made contact in writing or email we will ask these questions and upon your response to these questions will give you a response within 5 business days

     

If you do not meet the above criteria you may be ineligible for assistance under this policy. We will contact you and tell you why you are ineligible.

 

3. Indicators of Financial Hardship

The following is a list of possible indicators:

  • You have expressed financial difficulties
  • Your account history indicates that you have had payment difficulties in the past
  • You are visiting a financial counsellor
  • You have been referred to Customer Hardship Support Program by an external organisation.
  • You have experienced a loss of primary income, serious illness, death, disability, domestic violence or separation.

 

4. Identification by Smart Energy - Early response

Identification is achieved by ongoing monitoring of accounts and looking for potential indicators of hardship, including accumulating debt. Smart Energy will follow up with customers after one missed payment to help identify if they may be potentially experiencing hardship. Once this potential financial hardship is discovered, Smart Energy will offer the relevant customers assistance and referral into the Customer Hardship Support Program. Customers will be contacted by phone call within 48 hours of being identified as a customer who may benefit from participation in the Hardship Program. Whether or not the customer responds to that contact, they will be sent a letter inviting them to participate in the Hardship Program immediately after contact is attempted. A follow-up phone call will then be made to discuss this letter.

 

5. Customer obligations

While participating in the Customer Hardship Support Program, you must:

  • Keep in regular contact with their Smart Energy Networks Account Manager and update them of any relevant change in financial circumstances; and
  • Adhere to the Customer Hardship Support Program

 

6. What we will do to help you

We will tell you about our hardship program if:

  • You tell us you are having trouble paying your bill
  • You are referred to our program by a financial counsellor or other community worker
  • We are concerned that you may be experiencing financial hardship

We will recommend you speak to a staff member to help you join our Hardship Program if you have:

  • A history of late payments
  • Broken payment plans
  • Requested payment extensions
  • Received a disconnection warning notice
  • Been disconnected for non-payment

We can also support you to join our hardship program if you tell us:

  • You are eligible for a relief grant or other emergency assistance
  • You have personal circumstances where hardship support may help. For example, death in the family or job loss

You may have trouble paying your bills for different reasons. Please contact us so we can discuss your individual situation.
Our staff are specially trained to help you with hardship. Staff will:

  • Ask you a few questions about your circumstances
  • Work out if you can join the hardship program

We will assess your application for hardship assistance within 3 business days from your application.

We will let you know if you are accepted into our hardship program within 5 business days from receipt of the application.

If you are accepted into our hardship program, we will:

  • Tell you if you are on the right energy plan or if there is a better plan for you
  • Tell you about government concessions, relief schemes or energy rebates you may be able to receive
  • Give you ideas about how to reduce your energy use
  • Talk to you about a payment amount that suits your circumstances.

We can send you a free copy of our hardship policy.

 

7. Payment Options

7.1 What we will do

There are different payment options available to hardship customers, including:

  • Centrepay
  • Payment plans
  • Direct debit
  • Bpay
  • Credit Card

When you are in our hardship program, we will offer you flexible payment options to suit your individual situation.
To make your payment plan, we will consider:

  • How much you can pay
  • How much you owe
  • How much energy we expect you will use in the next 12 months
  • This will help us figure out a payment plan that is right for you.

We will offer a payment plan to suit your situation. This will include payments to cover:

  • What you owe
  • An amount to cover your energy use.

Once we agree to a payment plan, we will send you information including:

  • Who you can contact for more help
  • How long the payment plan will go for
  • The amount you will pay each time
  • How many payments you need to make
  • When you need to make your payments (this is also called the frequency of the payments)
  • How we worked out your payments

     

You can choose to use Centrepay if you are eligible.

Centrepay is a free service you can use to help pay your bills. Centrepay can automatically take an amount of money from your Centrelink payments to go toward energy bills and expenses.

We will see if another energy plan may be better for you. If you agree, we can transfer you to a better energy plan for free.

Depending on the rules in our Hardship Policy, we may be able to remove some debt, fees or charges you owe. If you miss a payment, we will contact you to see if you need help.

We will contact you by phone. If we are unable to reach you by phone, we will send you an email and an SMS on the same day, asking that you contact us as soon as possible (either by return email or calling us).

We will continue to attempt to contact you every 2 business days by phone until 10 full business days have passed. At which point, if we have been unable to contact you and the payment is still outstanding, we will consider this a breach of your payment plan. In the instance of a breach, we will assess whether to change you back to normal billing practices (based on your current plan). If we decide to do this, we will advise you via your preferred contact method.

What you must do

Tell us if your situation changes and you can no longer make the payments in your plan. We can then review your payment arrangements. Tell us if your contact details change.
We may stop helping you if you:

  • Stop making payments under your plan
  • Do not tell us when your contact details change

If you have had two payment plans cancelled in the last 12 months because you did not follow your plan:

  • We do not have to offer you another plan
  • We might disconnect your energy

7.2 Flexible Payment Options

  • Smart Energy have specially trained account consultants that can tailor assistance to your individual needs and establish a personalised payment plan.
  • In providing flexible payment options, Smart Energy is committed to Sustainable payment plans: A good practice framework for assessing customers’ capacity to pay.
  • You will be informed about the range of options we have available to pay any amount outstanding on your account and/or for ongoing consumption.
  • The payment arrangement made with you will take into consideration the amount outstanding on your account, capacity to pay and the expected energy consumption over the next twelve (12) months.
  • In setting up the payment arrangement, discussions will be held with you regarding the circumstances surrounding entry into the Customer Hardship Support Program, other financial commitments you have and any support you are entitled to under government-funded schemes, concessions and rebates. When considering a customer’s capacity to pay, the following factors will be reviewed:
     - Any income you are receiving
     - Any support you are receiving or is entitled to
     - Household and other expenses
     - Any dependents that rely on you for income and/or other forms of support
     - Any likely change to your income and expenditure over the next twelve (12) months
     - Other financial commitments you have
     - Any report from a financial counsellor or other authorised third party on your capacity to pay
  • If you are entitled to receive payments from Centrelink and would like to enter into a Centrepay arrangement, we will ensure that this facility is made available.
  • You may contact us for further information on Centrepay using the contact details provided towards the end of this document.
  • To ensure an appropriate payment plan is calculated, we will determine the estimated usage and amount needed to reduce arrears over an extended period.
  • The length of the payment plan will be dependent on the nature of the hardship, the level of debt and your capacity to pay.
  • Payment plans will include an offer to pay for the energy consumption in advance or in arrears by instalment payments.
  • The final payment plan negotiated will be set out in a schedule and confirmed over the phone and emailed or mailed to you.
  • You will have the option of requesting a hardship arrangement be reviewed at any time to either decrease or increase payments.
  • An Account Manager will review your account on a monthly basis under the Customer Hardship Support Program. The Account Manager will contact you if an arrangement becomes unsuitable.
  • The Account Manager has a duty to ensure that he or she treats you with respect and courtesy at all times.
  • You can contact the Account Manager’s supervisor at any time if you are unhappy with the way the Account Manager is managing the account under the Customer Hardship Support Program.

Once we agree to a payment plan, we will send you information via your preferred communication method, this will include:

  • Who you can contact for more help
  • How long the payment plan will go for
  • The amount you will pay each time
  • How many payments you need to make
  • When you need to make your payments (this is also called the frequency of the payments) how we worked out your payments
  • Right to cancel or amend the arrangement upon request

If you successfully complete the payment plan and return to a sustainable credit position, we will send a letter of congratulations, encouraging you to continue regular payments and the account will be returned to the normal collection cycle.
If we remove you from the Hardship Program, we will send a Letter which sets out the reasons for removal from the program and gives you the opportunity to make contact and negotiate further payment arrangements.

7.3 What you must do

Tell us if your situation changes and you can no longer make the payments in your plan. We can then review your payment arrangements. Tell us if your contact details change.
We may stop helping you if you:

  • Stop making payments under your plan
  • Do not tell us when your contact details change

If you have had two payment plans cancelled in the last 12 months because you did not follow your plan:

  • We do not have to offer you another plan
  • We might disconnect your energy

 

8. Other supports to help you pay your energy bill

Depending on the state or territory you live in, there are other supports to help you pay your energy bills.

8.1 What we will do

We will tell you about other ways you can get help to pay your energy bill, such as:

  • Government relief schemes
  • Energy rebates
  • Concession programs
  • Financial counselling services

8.2 What we need you to do

If you find out you are eligible for these programs, let us know as soon as possible so we can help you.

 

9. Our programs and services

As a hardship customer, you can access a range of programs and services to help you:

  • An Account Manager will work with existing advisors, including financial counsellors and solicitors, should any be involved.
  • With your permission, the Account Manager will arrange and schedule group meetings or conference calls to bring all parties together to work on a plan to address energy account management.
  • If you join the Customer Hardship Support Program with no external advisors and if you consent, a meeting will be arranged with a Financial Counsellor at no cost.
  • The Account Consultants will be responsible for providing you with information on any government rebate, concession or grant to which you may be entitled and will assist with the application process.
  • Account Consultants will speak to you about your eligibility criteria and seek information to assist in determining eligibility.

Following are the available government rebates, concessions or grants for each state:

QLD Customers

  • Electricity Concession
  • Reticulated Natural Gas
  • Electricity Life Support Concession Scheme
  • Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession
  • Home Energy Assistance Scheme (HEAS)

For more information visit:

www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions/energy-concessions

NSW Customers

  • Energy Switch
  • Family Energy Rebate
  • Appliance Replacement Offer
  • NSW Gas Rebate
  • Low Income Household Rebate
  • Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme (EAPA)
  • Discounted Energy Efficient Lighting
  • Discount Energy Efficient Air Conditioners

For more information visit:

www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/cost-living#energy-and-utilities

If customers would like to seek their own financial assistance, they can contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 to talk for free to financial counsellor from anywhere in Australia.

 

 9.1 What we will do

We will consider your individual situation to find the right programs (e.g. concession programs) or services that meet your needs.

 

10. We want to check you have the right energy plan

What we will do

When you join our Hardship Program, we will talk to you about your energy use and whether you are on the right plan.
If we think there is a better energy plan for you, we will:

  • Explain why the plan is better
  • Ask if you’d like to transfer to the new plan for free

We will only talk to you about energy plans we can offer.

10.1 Market Contract Review

  • Account Consultants will be responsible for reviewing the appropriateness of your market contracts upon entry to the Customer Hardship Support Program. This review will take place within two (2) weeks of entry into the Customer Hardship Support Program and will be conducted at no cost.
  • If, on review, an Account Manager determines that you could be provided with an offer that is more suitable to the circumstances (e.g., lower tariffs, different product structure) you will be given the option of moving to the new offer.
  • If you consent, we will move you to the new offer at no cost. You will remain a participant of the Customer Hardship Support Program on the new contract.
  • Your Account Manager will, during the review, determine if the market contract prevents you from using Centrepay and, if it does, will offer an alternative contract or the opportunity to amend the existing contract to include Centrepay. In all cases, any alternative contract offered will make Centrepay available as a payment option.
  • The results of the review into the appropriateness of your current market contract will be communicated by phone or in writing within three (3) weeks of entry into the Customer Hardship Support Program. You will then be given as much time as needed to consider accepting an alternative offer.

 

11. We can help you save energy

Using less energy can save you money.

What we will do

When you join our hardship program, we can give you tips to use less energy. This can be different depending on the state or territory you live in.

 

12. We will work with you

If you have joined our hardship program, we will not:

  • Charge late payment fees
  • Require a security deposit
  • Make changes to your plan without your agreement. For example, we will not put you on a shortened collection cycle unless you agree first

 

13. Disconnection

Whilst a customer is on a payment plan, Smart Energy will ensure your home is not disconnected and there is no collection action on your account.

 

14. Access to the Policy

This policy is directly aligned with the document entitled ‘AER Customer Hardship Policy Guideline Version 1 March 2019. https://www.aer.gov.au/system/files/AER-Customer-Hardship-Policy-Guideline-March-2019.pdf

This Policy is available on our website https://www.smartenergygroup.com.au/customer-assistance/policies-and-forms/, along with an easy English version if required and will be provided free of charge on request.

If you reside in a remote area and don’t have access to the internet or you want a paper copy, you can request a copy of this policy to be posted to you at no cost by calling us on 1300 133 055 or in writing to Smart Energy [email protected].
We are committed to providing energy services, and appropriate hardship programs to our customers with diverse communication. If you have difficulty with English, you can call the interpreter service on 131450 or this document can be translated by Google translate https://translate.google.com.au in your preferred language.

If you experience any disabilities, you can appoint an authorised 3rd party or advocate to deal with us, on your behalf. We can help you if you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impediment. The National Relay Service (NRS) is a federal government resource that you can utilise at any time. If you require this service, please let us know. Contact details for the NRS are:

  • Web: https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people- disability/accesshub/national-relay-service
  • Speak and listen number: 1300 555 727
  • Teletypewriter (TTY) number: 133 677
  • SMS Relay number: 0423 677 767

Customers are informed about the existence of a Hardship policy through our Customer Charter, which is issued during the sign-up process along with the welcome pack, Hardship welcome letter, Reminder and Disconnection notices.

 

15. Complaints

We are committed to efficient, fair and courteous resolution of hardship customer complaints and disputes at all times and aim to resolve complaints at first point of contact.
If you have a complaint about Smart Energy’s Customer Hardship Support Program, you can contact Smart Energy Network by calling us on 1300 133 055 or emailing us at [email protected]

We will endeavour to resolve your issue as quickly as possible in accordance with our Complaints and disputes Policy https://www.smartenergygroup.com.au/customer-assistance/policies-and-forms/. However, if you remain dissatisfied, you may wish to contact the Energy Ombudsman in your state.

ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal 02 6207 1740 www.acat.act.gov.au
Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW 1800 246 545 www.ewon.com.au
Energy and Water Ombudsman South Australia 1800 665 565 www.eiosa.com.au
Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland 1800 662 837 www.ewoq.com.au
Energy and Water Ombudsman Western Australia 08 9220 7588 www.ombudsman.wa.gov.au

 

16. Training

Smart Energy staff will receive training on this policy, issues relating to financial hardship, how to identify customers in potential hardship, assist customers experiencing payment difficulties and communicate respectfully to ensure customers experiencing hardship are dealt with in an empathetic and non-judgmental manner.

Staff will also receive regular refresher training on identification and referral processes and protocols.

Staff will attend meetings and training provided by financial counsellors and community organisations to assist in understanding the issues that may be faced by customers.

A record of training will be kept for all staff in accordance with the Human Resources training procedures.

Smart Energy’s Customer Hardship Support Program Account Consultants are provided with training in areas including:

  • Sensitive approaches to communicating with customers in hardship
  • Understanding the issues associated with income uncertainty
  • Financial counselling and assistance available to customers

Smart Energy is committed to providing customers with the highest level of service and ensures that:

  • All customers are treated individually and with respect
  • All information gathered is treated with sensitivity and in accordance with the Smart Energy Privacy Policy under the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988

 

17. Review process

Smart Energy is continuously looking to further develop and improve the Customer Hardship Policy &
Customer Support Program.
The Customer Hardship Policy is to be reviewed biannually, by the compliance panel. The Customer Support Program is a fluid set of guidelines allowing for the varied and ever changing cases it is required to facilitate, it will be formally reviewed biannually parallel with the Hardship Policy.
The success of the Customer Hardship Support Program is dependent on customers’, as well as Smart
Energy’s commitment to working together to reduce arrears and enable customers to manage their future
energy usage.

 

18. Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Our Account consultants are experienced with assisting customers in financial difficulty. Any information we need to know about your situation will be kept confidential and in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988, and the Smart Energy Network privacy Policy. Smart Energy’s Privacy policy can be found on our website.

 

19. Contact Details

You can call us on 1300 133 055 or email us at [email protected]. If you require an interpreter, you may call 1800 796 518. For help using an interpreter, please visit Australian Government Translating and Interpreting Services Website at www.tisnational.gov.au

Need help? Say hello!

Around the clock, our team of experts are there to help with any questions or concerns you might have. Simply enter your details below and someone will be in touch soon.

Name * Existing Customer *
Phone * Postcode *
Call us 1300 133 055
Email us for solar [email protected]
Email us for energy [email protected]