How do I make a billing complaint against Origin Energy?

Common Origin billing problems include being placed on the wrong tariff, losing a discount or benefit without notice, concessions not being applied, and bills issued from estimated rather than actual meter reads. Under the National Energy Retail Law, retailers must apply the correct tariff for your plan, give you the benefit changes notice you are entitled to, and bill accurately. If a concession you registered for was not applied, Origin is required to correct the account, not just apply it going forward.

Start by requesting an itemised explanation of the bill in writing: the plan name, the rates charged per kilowatt hour, the supply charge, the meter reads used and whether they were actual or estimated, and any discounts that should have applied. Compare the rates charged against the plan you signed up for, plan-versus-billed mismatches are common and retailers must refund the difference when they are caught. Keep every response, because a paper trail of Origin failing to explain its own bill strengthens any escalation.

If the complaint is not resolved, go to your state energy ombudsman, EWON, EWOV or EWOQ depending on your state. The service is free, the retailer pays a case fee, and the ombudsman can order refunds, billing corrections and compensation for wrongly charged amounts. Mentioning in your written complaint that your next step is the ombudsman frequently produces a faster and better offer from the retailer.