If you don’t pay your bills, your energy company can disconnect your electricity or gas. Your water company can’t cut your water off completely, but it can restrict it so that you get less water.
The rules about disconnection and restriction
Disconnection and restriction are serious, so there are rules companies must follow. Before disconnecting or restricting your supply, they must send you a bill, a reminder notice and a warning. If you can’t pay what you owe, they have to consider what you can afford to pay.
There are also rules about when your energy can be disconnected or your water restricted. For example, your energy can’t be disconnected on a Friday, on the weekend or on public holidays. And your company can’t disconnect or restrict you if you have a complaint open with EWOV.
If your company disconnects or restricts your supply without following these rules, they may have to pay you a Wrongful Disconnection Payment (WDP) for energy or a Guaranteed Service Level (GSL) payment for water.
What to do if your energy is disconnected or your water is restricted
If your company tells you it is going to disconnect or restrict your supply, or if it already has, call them straight away. Ask what you have to do to avoid disconnection or restriction or to get reconnected.
The company will probably ask you to pay something. If you can’t pay it, tell them what you can afford and ask to set up an affordable payment plan. Ask the company if it can help you through its hardship program.
If you can’t work something out, contact EWOV. While we’re investigating, we’ll ask your company not to disconnect or restrict your supply, or to reconnect it if this has already happened. We will also check whether your company followed the rules and if you are eligible for a WDP or GSL.
