State pulls plug on power providers' dodgy discount cuts RULES to prevent householders getting ripped off by dodgy discount offers on power bills will be tightened by the State Government. Energy Minister Mark McArdle has asked the Queensland Competition Authority to amend the Electricity Industry Code to require electricity retailers to inform customers when a fixed-term discount nears its expiry date. The move follows revelations in The Courier-Mail early this week that Queenslanders were losing hundreds of thousands of dollars after being removed from the discount plans without their knowledge. "Reports of electricity consumers being unaware that they've stopped receiving discounts from their retailer are concerning and we have taken immediate action to put a stop to this," Mr McArdle said. The Electricity Industry Code currently requires retailers to alert customers 20 to 40 days ahead of the pending expiry of a negotiated contract, but not of a looming end of a fixed benefit under that very contract. "As a result, customers may not discover their discount has expired until they receive their next bill, which may be some months after expiry of the plan," Mr McArdle said. Queenslanders are fed up with retailers using these kinds of tactics and they deserve better treatment. The QCA will also ensure retailers obtain the explicit, informed consent of customers when any changes are made to their contracts, including extending or adding new fixed benefits or plans, be they for discounts or price variations. "The early identification of this issue by the Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland shows the system that we have in place does work," he said.