Electricity, gas and water complaints in the Riverina decreased by 30 per cent in the past year, largely owing to COVID-19 assistance measures.
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But the pandemic's ongoing impacts are expected to cause more hardship as people struggle with their energy costs.
The Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW annual report, released on Wednesday, recorded 417 Riverina complaints, 78 per cent related to electricity and more than half involving billing issues.
In the Murray region, 411 complaints also represented a 30 per cent drop compared with the previous financial year, with 84 per cent concerning electricity and 55 per cent around bills.
Overall NSW had a 26 per cent reduction in complaints to the Ombudsman, with the total of 19,370 being the lowest of the past five years.
Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW Janine Young said the Australian Energy Regulator's 2019 revised customer hardship guideline and COVID-19 statement of expectations had significantly reduced energy related disconnections, debt collection and credit default listing.
"As time goes on, the longer term impacts of increased unemployment or part-time rather than full-time work or a different job because you lost your perhaps higher paying role means that affordability for energy will decrease and customers will need help," she told The Border Mail.
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"I think there will be more people who have never been in a position before where they received an electricity bill and couldn't pay it; because of COVID-19 that's going to happen."
Nearly 4000 inquiries to the Ombudsman in 2019/20 saw people referred to other agencies such as a payment assistance scheme, financial counsellor, legal or tenancy adviser.
Ms Young said providing information, even if the matter was outside her jurisdiction, enabled people to learn what help was available.
"It's not charity, it's assistance they're entitled to and sometimes we're the open door that actually refers them to where to go," she said.
The Ombudsman encouraged people to reach out now if they were worried about their energy bills to avoid accruing debt later.
"The price of electricity in particular has gone up exponentially when compared to CPI or wage increase or pension increases over the past 15 years," she said.
"Until energy becomes more affordable again, then we'll never eradicate poverty," she said.
Ms Young said first bushfires, then coronavirus restrictions had limited face to face engagement with the community, but staff had adapted quickly to online options and working from home.
She paid tribute to all frontline workers during the pandemic.
"There are more customers exhibiting behaviours that are challenging for my staff to manage and it's understandable because of anxiety, we're all in an uncertain time," she said.
"When you work from home and you're taking calls from customers that are perhaps yelling or using language that's not the best, then it's even harder than when that happens in the office and you've got a support crew around you.
"I think we've really got to keep being kind to each other and provide assistance to customers who need it because that takes the edge off anxiety."
Contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW on 1800 246 545.