Origin Pays $126,000 Penalty for Misleading Customers Over VDO Price Change

Just before the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) is due to change for 2021, the consumer watchdog has penalised Origin Energy for its conduct during last year’s January 1 price changes in the state.

Origin has paid a $126,000 fine for allegedly misleading customers in an alert stating that prices were going up, suggesting it was related to the VDO price increase at the time.

The VDO impacts a retailer’s ‘standing offer’ – or most expensive plan – and effectively works as a price cap for electricity providers setting their pricing. On January 1, 2020, the default tariff went up by around seven per cent.

However, Origin sent out a letter stating that households on market offers could also…