DISPUTE RESOLUTION & COMPLAINT HANDLING POLICY

Your Voice Matters: Resolving Concerns with Care and Efficiency

Introduction

Energy Program is dedicated to upholding and enhancing our reputation for delivering highquality

services.

This policy aims to guide our customers, Service Providers, Installation Partners, end-users,

consumers and employees in understanding how the Energy Program manages and handles

complaints and resolves disputes. We pledge to be consistent, fair, and unbiased when

addressing grievances.

Energy Program is committed to being responsive to the needs and concerns of our

customers or potential customers and to resolving complaints as quickly as possible.

The policy’s objectives include:

• Informing all relevant parties of our processes for lodging and handling complaints

• Ensuring parties and staff understand the complaints handling process

• Conducting impartial investigations of complaints, considering all information and

evidence

• Actively safeguarding personal information through reasonable measures

• Evaluating complaints based on their merits, considering individual circumstances

and needs

Lodging a Dispute or Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with a service provided by the Energy Program, its Service Providers or

their installation partners under the Energy Program’s engagement, consider discussing the

issue directly with the party involved.

If you are uncomfortable addressing your concerns with the party involved or believe they

cannot resolve the issue, you can file a complaint through the following methods:

Ph: (03) 8374 3891

Email: info@energyprogram.com.au

In Writing to: 3/197 Bay St, Brighton VIC 3186

Required Information

To investigate your complaint efficiently, we will rely on the information you provide and

our existing records. We may need to contact you to clarify details or request additional

information. To expedite the process, please provide:

• The type of premises: commercial or residential.

• Your name and contact information

• The nature of the complaint

• Type of activity conducted: Hot Water Upgrade, Space Heating, Building Based

Lighting Upgrade etc.

• Name of the alleged Service Provider and the Installation Partner (if applicable)

• Steps you have already taken to resolve the issue

• Relevant conversations

• Any documentation that may assist in resolving your complaint

• Complaint Priority: Self-assessed (if applicable): Priority / Non-Priority

• Complaint Classification: Product complaint / Installation complaint / conduct of the

scheme participant

Priority Classification

Energy Program recognises the importance of essential services, including lighting,

electricity, hot water and heating, and is committed to handling these complaints with

urgency.

If the complaint is related to an interruption or major issue with the supply of the hot water

in your hot water system or majority of your lighting equipment covering major part of the premises, it will be marked as a ‘Priority Complaint’;

Any other complaints and enquiries that do not involve an interruption of the supply of the hot water, will be marked as ‘Non-Priority Complaint’;

The below paragraphs outline Energy Program’s management of Priority & Non-Priority Complaints.

A) Non-Priority Complaint Handling

Energy Program will acknowledge your complaint within five (5) business days and conduct

an initial review. During this review or subsequent investigation, Energy Program may need

to clarify certain aspects of the complaint or request additional documentation. In such

instances, Energy Program will explain the rationale behind our requests and provide you

with a status update on your complaint.

Energy Program commits to resolving complaints within 20 business days of filing. If Energy

Program cannot meet this deadline, it will notify you of the delay and provide an updated

resolution date.

If Energy Program has requested clarification or additional documentation from you and are

awaiting your response, it may not be able to meet the 20 business-day deadline. Upon

receiving the necessary information, Energy Program will inform you of the expected

complaint resolution date.

B) Priority Complaint Handling

‘Priority Complaints’ will be addressed with the highest urgency and Energy Program will

strive to respond within two (2) business days from the receipt of the complaint. The

resolution or a clear plan of action will be provided within five (5) business days, if not

sooner.

This prioritization of these complaints does not alter any other aspects of Energy Program’s

complaint handling procedures. All complaints will still be subject to a fair, unbiased

investigation considering all information and evidence provided.

To lodge a ‘Priority Complaint’, please mark the subject of your email or letter as “Priority

Complaint”. When lodging a complaint via phone, please specify at the start of the

conversation that it relates to a Priority Complaint matter.

Complaint Classification: Assessment Resolution

1. Product Complaints

Definition: Product complaints refer to any grievances or issues raised by end-consumers

related to the physical products supplied and/or installed through Energy Program by one of

its Service Providers. This can include but is not limited to defects in the product, product

performance not meeting specifications or advertised standards, issues with product safety,

warranty claims, and any other aspects that do not meet the customer’s expectations or

promised quality standards.

Level 1 Support: Service Providers are responsible for providing Level 1 Support with the

products installed. In the event of end-consumers not being able to receive a satisfactory

resolution from a named Service Provider, they are encouraged to contact Energy Program

for further instructions on getting the relevant matter resolved.

Initial Assessment: Upon receiving a product complaint, we will log the issue in our

complaint management system and classify it based on its nature and severity.

Investigation: A dedicated team will investigate the complaint, which may include

contacting the manufacturer, reviewing quality control reports, and assessing product

performance.

Resolution: In liaison with an accused Service Provider, appropriate actions, such as repair,

replacement, or refund, will be offered based on the warranty terms and the outcome of

the investigation.

Follow-up: We will follow up with the complainant to ensure the resolution is satisfactory

and to gather feedback for quality enhancement.

2. Installation Complaints

Definition: Installation complaints are concerned with issues arising from the service of

installing the energy products by Service Providers and their Installation Partners. These

complaints may stem from consumer dissatisfaction with the installation process, including

but not limited to improper or incomplete installation, not adhering to the agreed-upon

schedule, installation causing damage to the customer’s property, failure to follow industrystandard

practices, or any deviation from the prescribed installation protocols set by Energy

Program, Victorian Energy Upgrades or any other relevant authorised body.

Initial Assessment: Installation complaints are recorded and categorized by the type of

issue, such as installation defects or non-compliance with standards.

Investigation: We will contact Service Provider at fault for additional information to oppose

the allegations received. We will then contact end consumer for photo or video evidence if

required, following by an on-site inspection, if necessary, review installation processes, and

consult with the Installation Partner’s team involved.

Resolution: Corrective measures will be taken, which may include reinstallation, additional

training for Service Providers and Installation Partners, or process revisions to prevent

recurrence. In the event of unrepairable non-compliance, Energy Program will be organising

VEEC withdrawal.

Follow-up: Communication with the complainant is maintained throughout the resolution

process to ensure transparency and satisfaction.

3. Conduct of Scheme Participant

Definition: Conduct of scheme participant complaints involve any reports or allegations

regarding the behaviour or actions of individuals or entities participating in Victorian Energy

Upgrades through the affiliation under Energy Program’s Accreditation.

This encompasses alleged violations of the compliance requirements of the Victorian Energy

Upgrades, ACL code of conduct, unprofessional behaviour, non-compliance with legal or

ethical standards, misconduct in interactions with consumers, conflicts of interest, or any

other activities that could undermine the integrity of the Energy Program or jeopardise its

objectives and reputation.

Initial Assessment: Complaints regarding the conduct of scheme participants are taken

seriously and classified based on the alleged behaviour or misconduct.

Investigation: An impartial review will be conducted, involving email or over-the-phone

interviews with all relevant parties and a review of any contractual obligations or codes of

conduct.

Resolution: Disciplinary action, additional training, or termination of the participant’s

scheme involvement may result, depending on the severity and findings of the investigation.

Follow-up: We will inform the complainant of the outcome while respecting the privacy and

confidentiality of all parties involved.

For all categories, we adhere to the principles of fairness, confidentiality, and promptness.

We aim to resolve all complaints within a predefined timeframe, and we maintain a

transparent process where complainants are kept informed of the progress and outcomes.

Continuous improvement is embedded in our policy; feedback from the complaint

resolution process is systematically analysed to identify and implement improvements

across our operations.

Post Resolution – Notifications

Once Energy Program has finalised your complaint, it will inform you of the findings and any

actions taken. This will be done in writing unless a verbal agreement has been mutually

reached.

You have the right to inquire about your complaint’s status at any time.

Additional Information for Service Providers

• Service Providers are able to lodge complaints and disputes on behalf of their

consumers directly with Energy Program using either of the following methods:

o By raising a trouble ticket classified as “Customer Complaint” in the Service

Provider’s area at the app portal software.

o Ph: (03) 8374 3891

o Email: info@energyprogram.com.au

o In Writing to: 3/197 Bay St, Brighton VIC 3186

• Service Providers are required to put all their efforts to assist consumers with their

complaints and disputes, even if the nature of the complaint is not directly affected

by the actions or non-actions of the incumbent Service Provider or their Installation

partner. This includes some other enquiries, such as the quality of the products

offered or any other information or assistance requested by the end-consumer.

• All complaints must be resolved within 20 working days