Complaint clinics to be held in Broome

Horizon Power customers affected by recent increases to their electricity bills will have the chance to air their grievances when the WA Ombudsman visits this month.

Ombudsman officers will host two free complaint clinics in Broome as part of a Kimberley and Pilbara tour.

WA Labor Member for Mining and Pastoral Region Stephen Dawson wrote to Ombudsman Chris Field last month to investigate complaints made by residents who said they had been overcharged on their electricity bills.

Horizon Power told theBroome Advertiser in March that higher than expected power bills to more than a thousand of its customers in Broome and Derby had occurred as a result of a meter reading blunder.

It said the mistake had been traced back to December and led to inaccurately low bills that customers had previously received.

The utility said it wrote to households where bills were significantly lower in January, to advise them of the issue and that the bill could be higher.

Mr Dawson said there had been a “great deal of frustration” around town over the past few months in relation to increased power bills and encouraged residents to take advantage of the free clinics.

The clinics will be held from 3.30pm-6pm on Wednesday, June 29, and from 8.30am-10.30am on Friday, July 1, at Broome CIRCLE.

For more information, call 1800 117 000 or email communications@ombudsman.wa.gov.au.