EWON staff at a previous Bring Your Bills Day event. Photo: Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW.
Boggabilla and Toomelah residents struggling to make sense of an energy bill will be able to take it directly to Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) when the independent service visits both communities in September.
No booking is required for the free Bring Your Bills Days, and residents can simply walk in with their bills and other relevant paperwork. EWON has confirmed assistance will be available to all energy customers, regardless of which retailer they are with.
The Boggabilla Bring Your Bills Day will be held at TAFE NSW Boggabilla, South Street, on Tuesday, September 22 from 10am to 3pm.
The following day, Wednesday, September 23, EWON will be at Suzie McGrady Hall, Toomelah Local Aboriginal Land Council, from 10am to 3pm.
EWON is a free, fair and independent dispute resolution service for customers who have been unable to resolve an issue with their energy or water provider.
The organisation said it received 565 complaints from across the New England and North West region in the 2024-25 financial year, with 71 per cent relating to billing. These included high or estimated bills, billing errors and issues involving rebates or concessions.
Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW Janine Young said bringing the service into regional and remote communities could make it easier for residents to access assistance.
“Accessing help can be challenging for people living in regional and remote communities, that’s why we’re bringing EWON directly to Toomelah and Boggabilla,” Ms Young said.
“Our aim is to meet people in their community, explain their bills, address concerns and help connect them with practical support. Many people don’t know there’s payment plans and rebates available to them,” she said.
EWON staff will be available to help residents understand their bills and find out about payment assistance, rebates and other available support.
Energy providers will also attend to offer direct assistance to their customers, while Legal Aid NSW and Moree Family Support are among the government, community and support organisations expected to be available.
Residents are encouraged to bring current and past energy bills, letters from retailers, Centrelink Health Cards and any other relevant concession cards.
Both Bring Your Bills Days are free and no booking is required.
