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The energy regulator told retailers in March they must not disconnect any small business or residential customer who had contacted them about their payments, and that they could not refer anyone to debt collectors for unpaid bills.
Those instructions were extended on Tuesday until the end of October.
The Australian Energy Council, representing 22 electricity and gas businesses including retailers, said they “stand ready and willing” to help those under financial strain.
The group’s chief executive, Sarah McNamara, called for the government, regulators and industry to work on a plan to avoid the growing threat of “financial contagion”, where bad customer debts push retailers to the point of collapse.