Woolworths customers in two states have reported concerning incidents with recent iceberg lettuce purchases, prompting the supermarket giant to launch an investigation.
Sharing on Facebook, two shoppers – from Queensland and NSW – revealed that they’d discovered brown spots in lettuce that were recently purchased from Woolies.
It’s understood the discolouring is associated with excessive humidity and wet weather conditions in growing regions.
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While the disease – believed to be a bacterial soft rot – looks unsavory, 7NEWS.com.au understands that lettuce heads that have the discolouring are not a health risk and can be consumed.
With iceberg lettuce prices soaring to record highs in recent months, the customers have voiced their frustration at having taken home lettuce that were less than perfect.
Both shoppers reported that the icebergs appeared to be normal and in good condition when they were purchased.
A Queensland shopper shared these images of brown, slimy spots on an iceberg lettuce she recently purchased. Credit: Facebook
However it was only when they peeled back the outer leaves at home, that the brown spots and slime became visible.
“I treated us to a ‘fresh’ iceberg lettuce today from Woolworths for the first time in months,” said one Ipswich customer.
“Took off the outer leaves to put the ‘fresh’ inner leaves on our chicken burgers for dinner. Yeah, that didn’t happen considering I was met with a slimy, rotten mess. Yuck!
“The outer leaves looked normal … certainly not paying $6.50 for something I have to chuck straight to the chooks!”
Another Sydney customer shared a photo of her brown lettuce, saying: “I don’t mind paying what you guys ask but this is ridiculous.”
Experts say brown, slimy spots on a lettuce – which don’t appear on the outer leaves – can be a sign of bacterial soft rot in the lettuce.
Bacterial soft rot – or pectobacterium carotovorum – is typically caused by moist conditions and injury to the plant.
A Sydney shopper shared this image of the iceberg lettuce she purchased from her local Woolies. Credit: Facebook
The disease causes brown-coloured rot on infected areas and may go unnoticed until the leaves are removed.
Some Facebook users pointed out that recent flood conditions may have contributed to any problems with the lettuce.
“Did you stop and think that maybe, just maybe, they have been flood affected?” asked one. “It would be impossible to see what the inside looks like under the outer leaves.”
Woolworths responds
A Woolworths spokesperson has said that the supermarket is investigating the incidents.
“We take food quality seriously and are disappointed to receive similar reports from these customers,” the spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.
“We’ve passed this onto our suppliers and supply chain teams, who are assessing existing lettuce supply for any discolouring. This will continue to be monitored.
“We haven’t received any other reports on similar products at this time.”
Woolworths customers are encouraged to contact their local store for a replacement and refund if they are disappointed with the quality of one of the supermarket’s products
“Also, Australia is known for its balmy outdoor lifestyle, so many buyers in this super-prime space are willing to pay a premium to secure the ideal position along the waterfront.” The average premium paid for a waterfront property across the 17 cities was 40 per cent, and prices for waterfront homes climbed an average of 10.9 per cent over the year to June.
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Beachfront homes were in the strongest demand, commanding a premium of 63 per cent. Properties in harbor locations were a close second, with a 62 per cent premium, and coastal homes secured at a 40 per cent premium.
In Sydney, it was harborside homes that typically saw the greatest premium, said Michael Pallier of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty. Such homes were closer to the city and were more likely to offer direct water access than beach homes, which typically sat across the street.
“Point Piper would be number one, it’s the best of the best, but the non-waterfront homes there are also very expensive,” he said. “You’ll probably still spend 100 per cent more on a waterfront though.”
Buyers in Sydney’s prime waterfront markets could expect to pay at least double to get a home on the water, even when moving from one side of the street to the other, Pallier noted.
Such homes drew interest from both local and international buyers, he said, and reaching the waterfront was the goal for many cashed-up buyers.
Waterfront homes in Sydney attract an average premium of 121 per cent.Credit:Peter Rae
“It’s a personal milestone for a lot of people, we have a beautiful harbor … and people want a slice of it.”
In Melbourne, Nick Johnstone, director of Nick Johnstone Real Estate in Brighton, has a list of clients waiting for a beachfront property.
“They’ll pay whatever is required to get beachfront, but homes are so tightly held and pretty much generational, where people don’t want to sell,” he said. Owners may instead pass property on to their children.
The rarity of beachfront homes made them hard to value, Johnstone said, but estimated they sold for at least 100 per cent above a mid-range property in the same exclusive suburb.
Melbourne waterfront properties drew a premium of 39 per cent.Credit:eddie jim
“[Such homes are] rarely coming up and when they do, we are absolutely smashed with inquiries. There are just not that many beachfront properties and they’re not making any more,” he said.
Interest in waterfront homes came from local, interstate and overseas buyers — who were largely from China, or Australian expats returning home. Buyers from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs had also been increasingly moving to the Bayside region since the start of the pandemic, as buyers prioritized lifestyle locations.
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Holden has recalled almost 14,000 examples of the last car to wear the Commodore badge.
Sold to customers between 2017 and 2020, Holden’s ZB Commodore was a last roll of the dice from a brand clinging to life in Australia.
A recall notice for the European-sourced machine says the car’s brake booster may fail due to a manufacturing defect.
“If this occurs the stopping distance in the un-boosted condition would exceed the distance prescribed by the Australian Design Rule (ADR) 31/03,” the notice says.
“If the brake booster does not operate as intended, it could increase the risk of an accident causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and/or other road users.”
Holden finished assembly of locally-built VF Commodores in Elizabeth, South Australia in 2017. The German-built ZB Commodore took its place in showrooms until it was phased out when Holden decided to retire the Commodore name in December 2019.
Holden announced plans to end sales of all new cars in Australia weeks later in February 2020, before closing its local business at the end of that year.
The manufacturer still offers maintenance, repair and warranty work through a service network.
Models affected by the latest recall will receive a free software update that should address the issue.
Each week, Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on the workplace, career and leadership in her advice column “Got a Minute?” This week, a question about being paid for attending a workshop, corporate box-ticking on NAIDOC week, and what to do when you’re not happy with the pay rise you got.
I have been invited to attend a strategy workshop in an area where I have experience but is outside my day-to-day work. It is being run by a government training provider and the organizers expect me to contribute my ideas for free, even though they end up being used by others without acknowledgement. Most, if not all attendees will be paid directly or indirectly to attend the weekday event but as a Disability Support Worker with private clients, I will lose a day’s wages to attend. I have floated the option of consulting the training provider but have been declined and they say this will be a “good opportunity to network”. I see no value in this and resent losing money and my ideas not being valued. How do I navigate this situation and respond in a way that will leave the door open for future involvement?
Networking and exposure aren’t sufficient payment if you’re being asked to contribute heavily to a workshop.Credit:Dionne Gain
Ah, that old chestnut of “networking opportunity”. You should ask the government training provider if they are forgoing their wages on that day for the “networking opportunity” (only, just kidding, don’t really ask that but you know what I mean!). There are rare occasions when the opportunity to do something far outweighs any payment you might receive. It does not sound like this is one of those opportunities.
My advice is to work out your day rate – at a minimum what you make as a support worker and then some, since the work you do as a consultant will be quite different – and let the training provider know this is your fee for the day . If they decide not to use you, that is up to them. I expect that if you have a certain expertise they can’t replicate, they will understand they will need to pay you to be there. You will then set the expectation with them and anyone else who wants to engage you with that you have a daily rate for your expertise. It is important that you are paid and respected for the value you offer.
My company emailed everyone about the NAIDOC week celebration, which I was looking forward to. Turns out the “celebration” was basically a table with non-Indigenous-inspired snacks and some materials explaining Indigenous culture. Our line manager did not know what to do and the whole thing was lacking to say the least. It reminded me of an International Women’s Day celebration with pretty cupcakes and cute stickers – just another corporate box-ticking exercise with no substance to it. There could have been Indigenous speakers or the very least internal panel to discuss and bring awareness to the organisation. Why the lame effort for something so important? I would have much preferred if they just sent out an email and be done with it, instead of a disjointed and uninspiring celebration.
It is critically important we avoid turning NAIDOC week – or any other efforts to celebrate diversity and inclusion – into just another corporate box-ticking exercise, as you have identified. Sadly it sounds like your employer simply wanted to be seen to be doing something rather than taking the time to think through the purpose and meaning behind NAIDOC week.
Given the theme for NAIDOC week 2022 was Get Up! stand-up! Show Up! I wonder whether your letter is the first step in that process and you have the opportunity now to pass on your feedback and suggestions to your employer for what can be done differently (and not just during NAIDOC week but every week). Does your employer have a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) or other ways to recognize and celebrate Indigenous employees or the Indigenous lands you work on? There are many resources available at naidoc.org.au you can also direct your line manager to if they are unsure of how to proceed.
I have been working in a business I really like it for three years. The people and culture are great. I have recently been offered a promotion but the salary offer was quite disappointing compared to what I am paid now. I was only offered a few thousand dollars more but extra responsibility. To be honest I felt offended by the offer and have told the business owner but I don’t think anything will change in that regard. Considering the market situation I am truly considering moving on. Should I approach them with a final counter offer and advise if that is not met at some point soon, should I be open to new opportunities?
I can understand your disappointment if, in your mind, you think the new role is worth a lot more. However, sometimes it can be short-sighted to move. The grass is definitely not always greener. You are working somewhere you love and you said the people and culture are great. That is worth something – maybe not money – but it is worth something for the moment. The other opportunity you have is to take on a promotion with extra responsibility. The experience you gain in your new role will help you down the track apply for and hopefully obtain jobs that might pay even more.
A farmer who looks set to lose his farm after taking on his bank over what he says were dodgy lending practices has vowed to keep fighting for accountability in financial services.
Key points:
Ronald Feierabend has accused Suncorp Bank of withholding essential documents that would have allowed him to resolve his case for free
University of Wollongong’s Andy Schmulow says the regulatory system should require banks to provide they acted fairly
A review has identified complex laws and difficult definitions were key problems in the financial sector
It comes amid fears more Australians could find themselves at the mercy of a financial mediation system in need of review.
Ronald Feierabend has been in dispute with Suncorp Bank since he discovered discrepancies in the budget being used to estimate the profitability of his sugar cane farm Wingadee, near Bundaberg, during an application to refinance in 2014.
A series of mediations failed to resolve the dispute, and in 2021 the Supreme Court ruled that Suncorp could appoint receiver managers and sell the farm to recover outstanding costs.
The property will now be auctioned on September 1.
According to prudential regulation expert Andy Schmulow, the outcome was a sign of the failures in a debt mediation system that still favored the banks.
Mr Schmulow has called for a complete overhaul of the financial dispute resolution process.
‘They’re circling like vultures’
Throughout his long-running complaint, Mr Feierabend said he had been subjected to extreme pressure exerted by the bank, which he accused of not acting in good faith.
Police escorted Mr Feierabend off his farm in March.(Rural ABC: David Barnott-Clement)
In March, police escorted him off the farm.
“There’s been people who have been eyeing off the property, and you know, they think it’s going to be a fire sale,” Mr Feierabend said.
He alleged the bank withheld essential documents and failed to disclose his right to a free, internal dispute resolution process that would have saved him tens of thousands of dollars and resolved the matter sooner, to claim the bank denies.
“Emotionally, the way I’ve been attacked, I feel like I’ve been violated,” he said.
Suncorp Bank says it works within all legislative requirements and best practices.(AAP: Dave Hunt)
“I’ve seen the farm deteriorate into such a state that the whole farm needs to be refurbished or rebuilt.”
A spokesman for Suncorp Bank said due to confidentiality constraints, it would not comment directly on Mr Feierabend’s case.
“We are committed to working with and supporting our customers and take our responsibilities as a longstanding Queensland bank, with strong roots in agribusiness, very seriously,” he said.
“Suncorp Bank has robust internal processes and resources to ensure our customers are supported, including the option of having an impartial internal review of a complaint.”
Twin Peaks regulation fails
Australia’s financial regulation system is often referred to as the “twin peaks” model because of the interaction between the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), which regulates the conduct of the sector, and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which is charged with ensuring the stability of the broader financial system.
Dr Schmulow, who is a senior lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Wollongong, said it was a model that had solved many issues in the financial sector but failed to protect consumers.
“The Australian model is of great international interest, but perhaps of more international interest is why has such a good model failed so spectacularly in terms of regulating conduct in the financial industry?” he said.
“How do we know it’s failed so spectacularly? Well, because that’s the evidence [that] came out of the royal commission.”
“The reasons why it has failed are independent of the model itself… [and] would have caused the same failures had we used any other models for the regulation of the financial industry.”
Dr Schmulow says the culture at banks has not changed since the royal commission.(Supplied)
Dr Schmulow cited the broad remit of ASIC, the size, complexity, and in some cases, contradictory nature of the Corporations Act 2001 and timidity in the regulators as reasons the system was still failing after the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
Instead, he advocated for a “principles-based, outcome-determined” regime that would allow a customer to argue their case on the basis of fairness.
“In Suncorp’s case and their loans to Mr Feierabend, it would have been up to Suncorp to prove they had not acted unfairly,” he said.
“From what it sounds like, Suncorp has acted in a manner which is just unconscionable.
“Hopefully, under a principles-based regime, they wouldn’t get away with it.”
‘Bait and switch’ code duping consumers
In a statement, Suncorp Bank’s spokesman said the bank “ensures we work within all legislative requirements and best practice, including the Banking Code of Practice.”
But Dr Schmulow said the voluntary code was a smokescreen, and as more people found themselves in financial distress, it would be shown to be ineffective at changing the behavior of institutions towards their customers.
“I would actually say that the banking code of practice and its enforcement provisions are something akin to a bait and switch trick,” he said.
“It’s a deception that is put before the consumer to make the consumer think that they have rights of recourse.
“I can give you an assurance there will be more scandals because the culture in our big banks has not changed.”
A spokesman for the Australian Banking Association (ABA), which established the code, said it was enforceable through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) and contract law.
“It clearly sets out the obligations of banks to ensure fair dealings with customers who have a dispute, including obligations by banks to comply with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) guidelines in resolving complaints,” he said.
Farmer fighting ‘to the death’
Mr Feierabend has appealed to ASIC, AFCA, APRA, the ABA, the Australian Consumer Complaints Commission (ACCC) and numerous senators about his treatment from the bank.
AFCA said it could not investigate his claims due to time limits on when they could consider a complaint, while the other agencies determined his complaint to be outside their jurisdiction and referred him back to ASIC.
In a statement, a spokesman for ASIC said reports of misconduct were received in confidence, and so it would not comment on Mr Feierabend’s case or confirm if it was investigating.
Mr Feierabend has appealed to the regulators in his dispute with Suncorp Bank.(Rural ABC: David Barnott-Clement)
But Dr Schmulow said the broad scope of ASIC, coupled with a culture that did not aggressively pursue misconduct, meant individuals rarely had a chance to have their complaints investigated.
Mr Feierabend said despite all the setbacks, he had no regrets, and his legal team was continuing to investigate the mediation process.
“This is a matter of right and wrong, and for me, it’s a fight to death now,” he said.
“I still believe right to the bottom of my heart that we will come out of this with the truth.
“I know I’m not the only one in this position. I would do it again. I couldn’t do it any differently.”
As part of the response to the royal commission, the Australian Law Reform Commission is currently reviewing the laws that govern the sector, with a view to simplifying them.
An interim report tabled in parliament in February 2022 identified legislative complexity, overly prescriptive legislation, difficulty with definitions and obscured goals as key problems.
There are growing concerns a drop in investors buying into Tasmanian real estate could further shrink the availability of rental properties in the state.
Key points:
Overall, Tasmanian house sales have continued to trend down for the second consecutive quarter
Despite the falls, property sales for the June quarter were still slightly above the 10-year average of 1,739 properties
Mary Bennett from Anglicare says the drop in investment is concerning if it means properties are leaving the long-term rental market and not being replaced
The number of investors purchasing a Tasmanian property in the June quarter fell by 20 per cent compared to the previous quarter.
Out of 1,781 properties sold, just 16 per cent were purchased by investors, with even fewer Hobart properties (12 per cent) purchased as investments.
“That’s a worry,” the president of the Real Institute of Tasmania, Michael Walsh, said.
He fears properties being sold could be removed from an already tight rental market that has a current statewide vacancy rate of about 1 per cent.
“That’s probably a big discussion to be had on the implications for the rental market,” he said.
Mr Walsh said 30 per cent of buyers needed to be investors to properly support the private rental market.
“We just don’t have the private investment right now that tries to keep pace with that demand. Where people live is anyone’s guess,” he said.
Supply of affordable rentals ‘falling for over a decade’
Mary Bennett from Anglicare’s Social Action and Research Center said the drop in investment was concerning if it meant properties were leaving the long-term rental market and not being replaced by new supply.
“There has been a drop in the share of properties that changed hands being bought by investors,” she said.
“While this is an indicator of the level of investment in the long-term rental housing market, it may just reflect a drop in the number of investment properties changing hands.”
Ms Bennett also said it depended on how many investment properties entered the long-term or short-term rental market, and how much was being invested in building new housing supply.
“The supply of affordable rental housing has been falling for over a decade,” she said.
“If the supply of long-term rental properties in the private market falls, rents will continue to rise and we expect to see more Tasmanians turning to us for help as they also contend with other cost of living pressures.
“This is why it is so important that the government does not leave supply of affordable housing to the private rental market.”
Earlier this year the state government unveiled a $1.5 billion, 10-year housing plan to build 10,000 affordable homes.
On average, 1,000 new public housing homes would have to be built each year to keep the plan on track.
The Real Institute of Tasmania’s Michael Walsh said the market was in a transitional period.(abcnews)
Market ‘slowing but not collapsing’
Overall, Tasmanian house sales have continued to trend down for the second consecutive quarter.
House sales fell 4.7 per cent on the previous quarter, and 9.5 per cent on the same period last year.
“We saw a white-hot market last year,” Mr Walsh said.
“So it’s only normal after that to have house prices stabilize and readjust to what we’re seeing now.”
Despite the falls, property sales for the June quarter were still slightly above the 10-year average of 1,739 properties.
Mr Walsh said there were no fears of a housing market collapse.
“Prices are definitely not collapsing. That’s a strong message out of the figures we have for the last quarter,” he said.
“We’re in a transitional period. Is the market going to slow from last year? Absolutely. Last year was one out of the books.”
AAustralians could have saved $5.9 billion in fuel costs if efficiency standards were adopted in 2015, according to new research.
A report produced by leading think tank The Australia Institute, found that almost two in three Australians support the introduction of national fuel efficiency standards in line with those in Europe, but as yet the Federal Government has yet to introduce such a target.
Fuel efficiency standards have been adopted in around 80 per cent of the global car market, but not in Australia, with the new research saying now – as the fuel excise cut nears an end – is the time for it to be introduced.
Such a measure, says the think tank, would save motorists money on fuel, reduce transport emissions, increase the availability of electric vehicle models, and reduce Australia’s reliance on foreign oil.
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“Australians are being left behind simply because, as a nation, we are still accepting gas guzzling cars with no emissions standards. This is costing commuters money at the petroleum pump and holding Australia back from reducing our emissions,” said Richie Merzian, Climate and Energy Program Director at The Australian Institute.
“As the fuel excise cut nears an end, policymakers have an opportunity to save motorists money at the petrol pump by introducing an average efficiency standard for new cars in Australia.
“Previous attempts to introduce fuel efficiency standards in Australia have been marred by disinformation and outright lies. Unfortunately it is everyday Australians bearing the cost. Australian motorists have paid billions more for expensive foreign oil to fuel gas guzzling cars which have been rejected by the rest of the world.
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“The Albanese Government has a golden opportunity to implement robust fuel efficiency standards in line with Europe. The policy is popular, helps Australians with cost-of-living, and will help drive the uptake of cleaner vehicles.”
In 2018, the average carbon dioxide intensity for new passenger vehicles in Australia was 169.8gCO2/km compared to 129.9gCO2/km in the United States, 120.4gCO2/km in Europe and 114.6gCO2/km in Japan.
Later this month, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen will speak at Australia’s inaugural National EV Summit in Canberra – addressing the issue of a nationally-mandated emissions target as well as other EV-related topics.
The chamber’s data is calculated on a business-as-usual basis, assuming there were no further significant government policy changes such as tougher fuel efficiency regulation. Tougher standards would mean more infrastructure was needed more quickly.
The car industry is lobbying for relatively lax regulation of CO2 standards, but sees “an opportunity for the FCAI to try to promote a consumer-friendly narrative capable of becoming the accepted wisdom among those with an interest in EVs”, its public relations strategy says .
“In Europe… the transition to electric has been much easier [from economical cars]. In Australia, the jump from V8 to electric is a big leap.”
Professor Richard Hopkins, University of NSW
The FCAI’s push for weak regulation has been criticized by industry analysts. “It’s a typical delaying tactic we’ve seen across legacy industries – from tobacco to emissions,” said Audrey Quicke, a researcher at the Australia Institute think tank, who authored a paper on fuel standards that was released yesterday.
The Electric Vehicle Council, the peak body for non-fossil fuel powered cars, agrees that a lack of affordable electric cars is throttling the switch to low emissions cars, but argues that fuel efficiency regulations will change the auto market.
In a discussion paper sent to the federal government, the group proposes mandatory fuel efficiency rules for new cars that would gradually ramp up to bring Australia in line with Europe by 2030, with a target of ending the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035.
The International Energy Agency has calculated that a global ban on petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035 is one of the changes necessary if the world is to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change.
An electric car charging station in Zetland. Many more will be needed.Credit:Steven Siewert
Selling new fossil fuel-powered vehicles after that date is not compatible with the world reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the IEA says – a target Australia has signed up to via the Paris Agreement. The United Nations says the net zero emissions by 2050 plan would “avert the worst impacts of climate change and preserve a livable planet”.
Australia currently has no mandatory regulation of CO2 emissions from its passenger vehicles. The Australian Capital Territory has moved to ban the sale of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2035.
Independent experts share the view that a decade of little action has left Australia without sufficient electric vehicle infrastructure.
“I’ve just come back from three years in the UK, and it’s just incredible that you can walk the streets of Sydney and the streets of London and see such an amazing difference in the electric vehicle infrastructure and uptake,” said Professor Richard Hopkins , a motoring expert and professor of practice at the School of Engineering at the University of NSW. “It’s just so much about government policy, so much stems from that.”
The City of London has public fast-charging stations for one in every six electric cars on the road, with thousands of electric lamp posts being refitted as chargers. There is free parking for most electric vehicles and large subsidies for home charging equipment.
“From somebody who calls themselves a bit of a petrolhead, I think a lot of it comes down to the Australian psyche,” Hopkins said. “Everyone used to drive Holden V8s, Ford V8s, and the reality is that comes down to having low petrol prices. In Europe, they’ve tended to have to drive more economical internal combustion energy cars, so there’s been this longer lead time,” he said. “The transition to electric has been much easier. In Australia, the jump from V8 to electric is a big leap.”
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The federal government is examining new emissions policies for the transport sector, with a goal of reaching zero emissions within the next three decades. The government was contacted for comment.
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As Australians continue to deal with the rising cost of living, they are reminded to check the charges on their energy bills are actually accurate.
A Melbourne resident, who lives in a new-build town house with her partner, said she was “astounded” to get a $430 gas bill recently, despite her two previous bills being under $100.
She said it made “no sense” and that her heating was electric, meaning “hardly anything is on gas”.
“Once I inspected the bill I realized it was actually an estimate,” she told news.com.au.
“Lucky for me AGL allows you to run a meter read to receive an actual bill so that’s what I did.”
The simple act wiped hundreds off her bill, bringing it down to the markedly different cost of $65.
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According to the Australian Energy Market Commission, a small customer is entitled to request that their energy retailer adjust their bill by providing their own reading of the meter if they believe the electricity or gas bill given was based on an inaccurate estimate.
If your meter is a “basic meter” rather than a “smart meter” it means someone must physically attend the property to read it, which is when estimates are sometimes used.
Whether or not your bill is based on an estimate is indicated by an A (actual) or E (estimate) on the bill.
AGL said it there were “a range of factors” that resulted in customers getting an estimated read.
“When we’re unable to get an actual read of a meter, we send an estimated bill based on a number of factors including past energy usage and the average usage of similar customers,” a spokesperson said.
The company said customers were able to submit their own read directly via the AGL App or over the phone and their bill would be adjusted accordingly.
“As one of Australia’s largest energy retailers, AGL is committed to keeping energy prices competitive and affordable for customers,” the spokesperson said, adding that anyone with concerns should contact them.
The electricity crisis caused EnergyAustralia to suffer a whopping $1.6 billion loss for the first half of the year as the company battled with “extreme” conditions in the market.
The Melbourne-based company, owned by Hong Kong’s CLP Group, also warned that household power bills would continue to face pressure due to ongoing volatility in global fuel prices.
The mega loss experienced by the third biggest energy retailer was in stark contrast to last year when it recorded a $146 million profit.
The chief executive of parent company CLP Group, Richard Lancaster, said it would be “proactive” in seeking out partnerships for EnergyAustralia to transition to low-carbon energy.
Six weeks before the loss was reported, the company had issued a profit warning to the market.
On Monday, it revealed its earning had taken a huge hit as it was forced to buy up expensive supplies to meet customer demand amid “unprecedented market volatility”.
Shortfalls in energy production from its Yallourn and Mount Piper coal plants was one of the main reasons it had to shell out more money for supplies.
Its Yallourn plant in particular was hit by delays due to a fire on a coal conveyancer system and recurring maintenance issues, according to CLP Group.
However, the outlook on pricing continued to be bad, according to the company.
“Volatility in spot prices in response to weather variations and changes in supply and demand looks set to continue amid the net-zero transition in Australia,” CLP Group said.
However, EnergyAustralia’s competitors, AGL Energy and Origin Energy, have also sounded the alarm about profits due to issues such as coal power outages and supply problems at some plants.
Mr Lancaster said while the last six months were not representative of the market in general, volatility was something to expect in Australia.
Last month, the credit agency Standard & Poor (S&P) warned EnergyAustralia could be at risk of breaching one of its loans and suggested it may need financial assistance from its parent company.
EnergyAustralia signed a $1 billion credit facility in July to provide a bigger financial buffer for its operations, with S&P giving it a negative outlook due to its weakening credit position.
In its half yearly report, EnergyAustralia said it would “continue to strengthen its capital structure to fund its current and future investment needs, providing the reliable supply needed to support customer demand and the transition to a lower-carbon power market”.
But other retailers going under – with a spate collapsing including Byron Bay community-owned electricity provider Enova, Victorian provider Electricityinabox, LPE, Discover, Elysian and Future X – was a win for EnergyAustralia, which saw its customer base leap to 2.45 million.
EnergyAustralia said it had plans in place for the rest of the year to ensure electricity supply.
“Additional short-term coal and gas purchases have been made to enable EnergyAustralia’s power stations to support customers and the broader energy market in the second half,” CLP said.
