With stay-at-home orders extended in South East Queensland, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER)'s additional consumer protections extend to the 11 local government areas impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Through the standby Statement of Expectations, the AER expects energy retailers to:

1. Offer all residential and small business consumers who indicate they may be in financial stress a payment plan or hardship arrangement
2. Not disconnect any residential or small business consumers who may be in financial stress (including residential and small business consumers in an embedded network) without their agreement
3. Defer referrals of residential and small business consumers to debt collection agencies for recovery actions or credit default listing

These additional protections for residential and small business customers apply to Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, City of Gold Coast, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City Council, Noosa Shire Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Council from Monday 2 August and are expected to remain in place until two weeks after the stay-at-home order ends.

For more information on the new protection measures, visit the AER website.