澳媒：澳拖欠水电费现象增多 最多欠费2.6万澳元

中新网3月6日电 澳洲网刊发文章称，近日，据澳大利亚维州能源与水务监察局(Energy and Water Ombudsman)公布的调查报告发现，维州部分家庭，尤其是经济上有困难的家庭拖欠了大量水电煤气费用，欠费金额最高达2.6万澳元。

文章摘编如下：

近日，维州能源与水务监察局的一项报告显示，在拖欠支付水电煤气费用的家庭中，有家庭成员生病、失业以及拥有青少年或成年子女的家庭较为常见，这些家庭很多都面临经济困难，无法如期支付水电煤气账单。

这份报告共列举了512个水电煤气欠费额度超过3000澳元的案例，其中欠费最多的种类为电费，同时还有18个案例用户欠费金额超过了10000澳元。这些相对较为极端案例中，一位家住墨尔本郊区的户主拖欠了20500澳元的电费与煤气费，同时还拖欠了约6000澳元的水费；一个家住墨尔本北部并患有疾病的用户拖欠了25890澳元的电费；一名家住Gippsland的居民拖欠了18500澳元的电费和煤气费，并拖欠了约3000澳元的水费。

监察专员吉伯特(Cynthia Gebert)表示，对一些消费者来说，他们可能根本找不到偿还欠费的办法。她还表示，用户拖欠水电煤气费用的原因有很多，不仅仅是价格上涨，还有其他多方面的因素。在这些拖欠水电煤气费用的用户中，很多都有自己的苦衷，比如卷入了法律纠纷，房子意外着火，有的还遭遇了家暴，还有一些人还面临着其他债务，如罚款或税款等。

最后，报告建议那些在水电煤气费用支付方面有困难的用户主动联系能源公司，看能否参与这些公司的“困难户补贴计划”。此外，报告还称，能源零售商也应在用户的欠费规模失控之前采取行动。

Australian media: Australia's arrears of water and electricity are increased by up to 26 thousand Australian dollars

In March 6, Australia published the article said recently, according to the Australian state of energy and water Supervision Bureau (Energy and Water Ombudsman) an investigation report found that part of Victoria family, especially the family economic difficulties in a large number of utilities costs, the amount of arrears up to $26 thousand.

Article excerpts are as follows:

Recently, a report of Victoria energy and water Supervision Bureau show that in non payment of the cost of utilities in the family, a family member is sick, unemployed and have adolescent or adult children of the family is more common, these families are facing economic difficulties, unable to pay utility bills.

The report lists 512 cases of arrears of hydropower and gas over 3000 Australian dollars, among which the most arrears are electricity and 18 cases. The amount of user arrears is over 10000 Australian dollars. These relatively extreme case, who lives on the outskirts of Melbourne who owed electricity and gas fee of $20500, also owed about $6000 of the water; a home in northern Melbourne is suffering from a disease defaulted on a $25890 electricity users; one who lives in Gippsland residents in arrears with electricity and fee the gas of 18500 Australian dollars, and owed about $3000 in water.

Cynthia Gebert, the Ombudsman, says that for some consumers, they may not be able to find a way to pay the arrears at all. She also said that there are many reasons for the user's arrears of water and water gas costs, not only the price rise, but also many other factors. In the default cost of utilities users, many of them have their own difficulties, for example, is embroiled in a legal dispute, the house on fire accident, some also suffered domestic violence, and some people also face other debts, such as fines or taxes.

Finally, the report recommends that those who have difficulties in the payment of hydropower and gas costs will contact the energy companies to see if they can participate in the "difficult households Subsidy Plan" of these companies. In addition, the report also said that energy retailers should take action before users' arrears are out of control.