Australia's AGL Energy faces $15 mln fine for energy retail rules breach (updated)

AGL Energy

19/12/2024 24:43

(Updates with details from paragraph 2 onwards)
       Dec 19 (Reuters) - AGL Energy  AGL.AX  said on Thursday it has been fined A$25 million
($15.51 million) by the Federal Court for failing to notify and refund around 500 customers on
time for Centrepay payments.
    "AGL is disappointed that this issue occurred and apologises to the affected customers," the
company said in a statement. 
    AGL also stated that the penalty is "significantly higher than expected" and plans to review
the court's judgment before deciding whether to appeal.
    Centrepay is a Services Australia program that lets welfare recipients automatically deduct
essential bills, such as rent and utilities, from their payments.
    The energy and telecom services provider said that the penalty would not impact is fiscal
2025 guidance, which remained unchanged.
    
($1 = 1.6124 Australian dollars)
    
    

 (Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Alan Barona)
 ((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com))