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🇦🇺 Australia onlyWas I disconnected lawfully, and what can I do now?
Energy retailers are required to try genuinely hard before cutting you off: proper notice, an attempt to contact you, and a real hardship option, not disconnection as the default response to a missed bill.
This tool walks through what happened, whether you were on a hardship plan, and how much was owed, then tells you whether the National Energy Retail Rules point toward an unlawful disconnection, a hardship failure worth challenging, or what to do if you are facing disconnection but not there yet.
Exact processes vary slightly by state and retailer, this tool tells you which category of right you are likely in and what to ask for in writing.
Only relevant if you were already disconnected.
Only relevant if you were already disconnected.
Frequently asked questions
Can my energy retailer disconnect me the same day I miss a bill?
No. Retailers are required to give you written notice and make a genuine attempt to contact you before disconnecting for non-payment, disconnection is meant to be a last resort after that process, not an immediate response to a missed payment.
What is the minimum disconnection amount?
The Australian Energy Regulator sets a minimum debt threshold, currently $300, below which a retailer generally cannot disconnect you for non-payment at all. If you owed less than that, the disconnection itself may not have been permitted.
I'm on a payment plan. Can I still be disconnected?
If you are on an approved payment plan or participating in your retailer's hardship program and keeping up with it, the retailer is prohibited from disconnecting you for the debt that plan covers, regardless of the total amount owed.
What if my retailer refuses to offer a payment plan at all?
Retailers are required to run a genuine hardship program with real options for customers struggling to pay. A flat refusal is worth challenging directly, and escalating to your state energy ombudsman if they will not budge.
How fast can I get reconnected if I was cut off unfairly?
Reconnection requests, especially where the disconnection itself looks improper, can often be treated as urgent by your state energy ombudsman. Put your case in writing and ask for it to be expedited.
What should I keep as evidence?
Every bill, any disconnection notice or warning you received (or the fact you never received one), records of any hardship or payment-plan requests and responses, and the date and time of disconnection if it happened.
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screwtheman.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This tool gives general information on consumer rights and dispute pathways based on public guidance. For complex legal matters, consult a qualified lawyer or the relevant regulator.