By Dec 2015 Hydro Tas was not supplying 1 watt of hydro power to the North Island. Bass link was broken. Even it it weren't they would not be exporting any.
AUSTRALIA’S consumer watchdog described a Tasmanian energy retailer’s ad campaign as being at the serious end of the scale when it came to misleading consumers.
Hydro Tasmania’s interstate energy retailer Momentum has paid penalties totalling $54,000 after being issued with five infringement notices by the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Hydro Tasmania and the ACCC said payment of the fines did not constitute an admission the company breached consumer laws.
The fines relates to recent television, print, radio and social media ads by Momentum that told consumers the company generated and supplied renewable energy.
From around September to December 2015, Momentum used phrases in its advertising including: “We generate energy out of thin air. And fresh water.” and “Powered by Hydro Tasmania, all our electricity is 100 per cent Renewable”.
The ACCC said the television advertising featured footage of a Hydro dam.
But like other mainland retailers Momentum supplies its customers with electricity from the National Electricity Market, a pool of electricity from sources including coal-fired generation.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said the ads gave the impression Momentum’s energy was “greener” than it really was.
“One of our staff members saw the ad and quickly formed the view that it was misleading,” he said.
“The electricity you get when you use Momentum as a retailer is the same electricity you get if you use AGL or Energy Australia.
“We didn’t end up taking them to court because of their co-operation.”
Hydro CEO Steven Davy issued a statement apologising for “any confusion the campaign may have caused”.
“Momentum believed strongly that its customers were entitled to know it is part of Australia’s largest renewable energy business. The advertising campaign in question was based around this proposition,” he said.
“On occasion people will have different opinions about what advertising conveys. We have now addressed those aspects of the campaign that may have caused confusion.
“Hydro Tasmania has reviewed its controls around advertising and marketing for all its businesses. New guidelines are also being developed for future advertising campaigns carried out by Momentum.”
