Imagine fleeing an abusive relationship, only to have your new address handed over to your abuser by the very company you rely on for essential services. This chilling scenario became a reality for several victims of family violence in Australia, leading to a staggering $764,380 fine for Momentum Energy. But here's where it gets even more alarming: this wasn't an isolated incident. Between May 2022 and January 2025, Momentum Energy repeatedly failed to protect the confidential information of three vulnerable customers, disclosing their addresses to abusers a shocking 15 times.
Victoria’s Essential Services Commission (ESC) didn’t hold back, slamming the company for its systemic failures. Momentum not only revealed sensitive details like current residential addresses but also sent payment assistance letters to locations accessible by the perpetrators. One particularly disturbing case involved a victim who disclosed their situation to Momentum in 2022 but was never offered a secure communication method. The company continued sending letters to an outdated post office box, leaving the victim exposed for years until they raised the issue again in 2025.
And this is the part most people miss: despite identifying these breaches in 2023, Momentum Energy took no corrective action for two years—a delay the ESC deemed utterly unacceptable. Essential Services Commissioner Gerard Brody emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “When a victim-survivor discloses family violence to their retailer, they are placing their trust in that business. They should feel confident that doing so will help keep them safe.”
This isn’t the first time an energy company has faced penalties for such failures. In January, Origin Energy was hit with a $1.59 million fine for similar systemic issues, including disclosing confidential information of 16 family violence-affected customers and pursuing debt recovery actions against 38 victims without considering their safety.
But here’s the controversial question: Are these fines enough to deter such reckless behavior, or do we need stricter regulations to ensure companies prioritize the safety of vulnerable customers? The ESC’s actions send a clear message, but the recurring nature of these incidents raises concerns about industry-wide accountability.
What do you think? Are these penalties sufficient, or should there be harsher consequences for companies that endanger the lives of family violence survivors? Let’s spark a conversation in the comments below.
