Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Origin Energy restricts staff access after data breach, completes review
Company response
Origin Energy said it has completed a review into the theft of data for about 900,000 customers and has limited access to internal customer files to reduce the risk of future data breaches. A former Accenture employee working on its Origin account in Manila is the focus of a police investigation into the incident, according to a report Origin declined to confirm.
Company response
Ongoing disclosure — Origin Energy
saying it has completed a review into the nature of the theft of data for about 900,000 customers
Remediation — Origin Energy
Origin Energy has moved to reduce the risk of future data breaches by limiting access to internal customer files
Source excerpt
Origin Energy has moved to reduce the risk of future data breaches by limiting access to internal customer files, saying it has completed a review into the nature of the theft of data for about 900,000 customers.
On Tuesday, that a former Accenture employee, who was working on its Origin account in Manila, was the focus of a police investigation into the incident.
2022
Hardship and payment-difficulty compliance breach
Origin was fined A$17 million for breaching obligations toward customers experiencing hardship or difficulty paying their energy bills.
2022
Polluted-water release from Queensland gas operations
Origin pleaded guilty after heavy rain caused polluted water associated with coal-seam-gas operations to overflow from tanks into a nearby waterway and a landholder’s dam in Queensland’s Western Downs region.
2021
Prohibited exit fees charged to customers
Origin was fined after charging thousands of customers exit fees that had been prohibited. The company had received complaints and reviewed contract templates but continued charging the fees for a period before remediation was completed.
2020
Misleading explanation of Victorian electricity price changes
The ACCC issued an infringement notice after Origin told Victorian customers that a price change resulted from an increase in the Victorian Default Offer. The regulator stated that the change was instead Origin’s own pricing decision.
2020
EPA fines Eraring power station operator over alleged dust emissions
Fine or penalty
The Environment Protection Authority fined Origin Energy Eraring Pty Ltd $15,000 over alleged dust emissions from Eraring Power Station. The EPA alleges that the operator breached its environmental licence through excessive dust emissions from the station's ash dam.
Company response
Remediation — Origin Energy Eraring Pty Ltd
The licensee ceased ash dam operations at the time and is undertaking several actions in response to the incident.
Source excerpt
EPA Regional Director Metro Operations North Adam Gilligan said the EPA alleges that the operator breached its environment protection licence due to excessive dust emissions from the station's ash dam.
The Environment Protection Authority has fined Origin Energy Eraring Pty Ltd $15,000 over alleged dust emissions from the Eraring Power Station at Lake Macquarie in October last year.
The licensee ceased ash dam operations at the time and is undertaking several actions in response to the incident.
2017
Whistleblower allegations concerning well integrity and workplace culture
A former Origin compliance manager alleged that the company had failed to maintain or properly close numerous wells, had not consistently reported incidents, and tolerated bullying and harassment. The allegations also concerned the handling of risks associated with unconventional gas operations. Origin denied the claims.