Frequently Asked Questions

Origin’s purchase of WINconnect and what it means for you 

Over the past year we’ve been working through Origin’s acquisition of WINconnect PtyLtd to decide the most effective way to integrate customer accounts with Origin’s systems.  

The outcome of our review is that: 

  • most customer accounts will migrate to Origin systems in 2024.
  • some customer accounts will stay on WINconnect systems for now. We can’t migrate some accounts for various technical reasons, but this may change over time. 

No matter which system you’re on, you’re still with Origin, and we’re here to answer your questions.  

Latest Origin FAQ

How you’ll know if your account is migrating or not, and what you can expect:

If your account is being migrated to Origin’s systems:

  • Migration will occur in 2024. We’ll be in touch soon to let you know when. 
  • As your migration date nears, we’ll send you a more specific notice to keep you up to date on timings and give you information that’s specific to your account(s) – like what to do if you have direct debit, and when you can expect a final bill from WINconnect.  (WINconnect will keep managing all your accounts right up until your final bill.) 
  • It’s good to know that the contract you accepted with WINconnect will remain in place – even if we migrate your account to Origin’s systems. You don’t need to do a thing.  

After your account is migrated;

  • As soon as your account is migrated to Origin’s system, you’ll get a welcome letter. 
  • Then, when your next billing cycle is up, you’ll get a bill that’s generated from Origin’s system. 

If your account is staying in the WINconnect system:

  • We’ll let you know shortly if your account’s not moving yet.  
  • For now, there will be no change to your account and you don’t need to do anything.  
  • WINconnect will manage your account, and you’ll still get a bill that’s generated from WINconnect’s system. 

Some customers may have accounts on both systems for a while:

Depending on the types of WINconnect accounts you currently hold, you might end up with most or all of them on Origin’s systems, and some on WINconnect’s system for now. As we work through the migration, we’ll provide more details about your specific situation. 

Will my contract terms and conditions change?

For all WINconnect customers, the contract you accepted with WINconnect will remain in place – even if we migrate your account to Origin’s systems.  

How to contact us:

Call WINconnect on 1300 791 970 weekdays from 8am to 6pm if you’d like to chat. We can help you with your migration questions, as well as any other topic to do with your account(s), like: 

  • billing 
  • moving in or out 
  • disconnections 
  • making payments. 

What happens to my privacy throughout this process?

To find out how WINconnect and Origin collect, hold and disclose personal and credit information, view our privacy statements at winconnect.com.au/privacy-policy and originenergy.com.au/privacy

Centrepay:

What do I need to do in my Centrepay account once I’ve been migrated from WINconnect systems to Origin systems?
You’ll need to update your Centrepay details and to do this yourself, log into your MyGov or Express Plus Centrelink account and re-direct your existing payments to Origin Energy Holdings PTY Ltd, CRN: 555083960H.

How will I know at what stage I’m at with the migration from WINconnect to Origin?
If you haven’t cancelled your Centrepay agreement with WINconnect once you’ve been migrated onto Origin systems, we’ll contact you via SMS. You’ll also receive written communication from – either an email or a letter in the post. 

Will my biller code remain the same once I have transitioned from WINconnect to Origin?
In some instances your biller code may change once you’ve migrated, the best way to check this is to have a look at your first Origin bill. You’ll find the biller code at the bottom of the first page of your Origin bill, as per the image below.

What happens if there is an overpayment in my Centrepay account during the migration?
If there is an overpayment in your Centrepay account, we’ll be unable to apply this credit to your new Centrepay agreement with Origin. We will however contact you in order to resolve the issue. 

How would an overpayment on my Centrepay account occur?
Although this is unlikely, this could happen if a payment was processed on the agreement you had set in place with WINconnect once the account had already been been migrated to Origin.

Previous Origin FAQ

Who is Origin?

Origin is one of Australia’s leading integrated energy companies with over four million customer accounts and interests in generation and production. Its community energy services (CES) business manages over 200,000 Hot Water customers and 96,000 Embedded Electricity customers in more than 2,700 buildings and provides serviced hot water, natural gas and electricity via embedded networks and other related services.

You can find more information about Origin at www.originenergy.com.au

What does the acquisition mean for me?

There’s no immediate change. Initially, the WINconnect business will continue to operate as normal and there’s nothing that you need to do right now.

Is there any change to my terms and conditions?

The contract that you have accepted with WINconnect will remain in place.

Are you still managing my account?

Yes. We’ll continue to manage your account and bill you for your usage.

What happens next?

You’ll continue to receive the high level of service you’ve come to expect from us and we’ll keep you up-to-date on the key things you need to know along the way, either by letter or email, or as a message on your bill.

What happens to my account and benefits?

You remain a customer of WINconnect and you’ll continue to receive your current benefits.

Will I still receive bills from WINconnect?

Yes, you’ll continue to receive all bills from WINconnect and later in the year we’ll confirm what the change may mean for your WINconnect account in the longer term.

What happens to my privacy?

To find out more about how WINconnect collects, uses, holds and discloses personal and credit information, read our Privacy statements at www.winconnect.com.au/privacy-policy

Can I talk to WINconnect about the acquisition?

Yes, of course. Just call us on 1300 791 970 weekdays from 8am to 6pm (AEST) if you’d like to chat.

Can I talk to someone at Origin about the Origin acquisition?

If you have any questions or issues regarding your account, please refer to our WINconnect team who will be able to assist you with your enquiry.

Billing and Payments

Payment options include:

  • Direct debit
  • BPAY
  • Pay Online
  • Pay by Phone
  • Pay in Person
  • Pay by Mail
  • Centrepay

Visit www.winconnect.com.au/pay-a-bill/ for further information

What rate am I on?

Your electricity rate is located on the back of your bill. For any questions regarding your electricity rate, please email enquiries@winconnect.com.au or call 1300 791 970 for a copy of your rate table.

Does my electricity rate include a discount?

Commercial accounts may include a pay on time discount off the usage. Residential customers are placed on a special base rate. Contact our Customer Service Team on 1300 791 970 or email enquiries@winconnect.com.au for a copy of your electricity rates.

How often do I get billed?

WINconnect and WINenergy issue invoices for electricity, water, gas cooktops (included on your hot water invoice) and air conditioning on a monthly basis, billed on actual meter reads. In the rare case where bills are issued on estimate reads (due to access issues or a faulty meter) WINconnect will estimate based on market rules and the consumption is flagged as estimated on the back of your bill.

What should I do if I am finding it difficult to pay my bill?

We understand that from time to time, customers may have trouble paying their bills. We are here to help, please contact us to discuss our flexible payment options such as a short term payment extension or our view hardship program for further information on support that may be available to you. WINconnect Customer Service can be contacted  on 1300 791 970 (Australia Only) or +61 3 9832 0000 (Outside Australia) between 8am – 5pm (AEST), alternatively you may complete an online enquiry form.

What if my bill is too high?

At your request, WINconnect will review your bill without charge. While the bill is being reviewed, we require payment for either part of the bill we both agree is not in dispute or an amount equal to the average of your bills over the previous twelve months. Our experienced customer service staff can talk to you about what could be impacting your usage.  If you are not satisfied with the review, you may ask for a meter test. If your meter is inaccurate, we will adjust your bill accordingly and there will be no charge for the test. If the meter is accurate, you will be required to pay the cost of the test and the amount outstanding. Potential test costs will be discussed with you before the test is scheduled.

Click this link to see a High Bill Checklist’, this list may assist in explaining why your invoice is higher than expected. The information contained within this checklist is a guide only and individual circumstances may vary.

What are the Fees & Charges?

For all information regarding to additional fees and charges that may apply from time to time visit our additional fees and charges page or contact  WINconnect  Customer Service  on 1300 791 970 (Australia Only) or +61 3 9832 0000 (Outside Australia) between 8am – 5pm (AEST), alternatively you may complete an online enquiry form.

How to make payments on your account manually when Direct Debit is set up?

If you wish to pay your account manually you can do so provided payments are made at least 3 business days prior to the due date. This is to allow for the funds to be recorded against your account and avoid a double payment. If payment is made manually within this timeframe, due to processing times, a direct debit will still occur.

Centrepay

What is Centrepay?

Centrepay is a voluntary bill-paying service that’s free for Centrelink customers. Use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Centrelink payment.

You can start or change a deduction at any time. The quickest way to do it is through your Centrelink account online. Go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/centrepay for more information.

How do I set this up?

You can set up Centrepay deductions for your WINconnect account through your Centrelink account online. If you’re unsure how to do this, take a look at this step-by-step guide.

You’ll need the details below to set this up for your WINconnect account:

· Origin Centrelink Reference Number (CRN): 555083451B

· Name: WINconnect Pty Ltd t/a WINenergy

· Reference: Your account number (you can find this on your bill)

Moving and Connections

How do I sign up with WINconnect?

Connection requests can be made online using the online ‘Get Connected’ form. Alternatively, you can contact us on 1300 791 970 Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (AEST) and we can arrange this over the phone in a matter of minutes.

How do I close my Account?

Simply complete our Online Form when moving out.  Alternatively, you can contact us on 1300 791 970 Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (AEST) and we can arrange this over the phone in a matter of minutes.

Where is my NMI number?

As your meter is part of a community energy network, and not part of the NEM (Nation Energy Market), a NMI is not assigned to your meter. WINconnect allocates a unique meter number to identify your usage associated with your supply address. Your WINconnect meter number is shown on the back of your bill.

What time will Connection Occur?

We endeavour to complete Standard or Priority Connections between 8:00am and 5:30pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). There may be times connection will occur outside this time due to circumstances outside of our control such as traffic congestion.

How do I know I have been connected?

To check if your electricity has been turned on, ensure your main switch and any other switches on the switch board in your tenancy are in the ‘On’ position.  If there is no electricity, turn off the main switch and safety switch. WINconnect endeavour to have connections completed by 5:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). There may be times connection will occur outside this time due to circumstances outside of our control such as traffic congestion. If connection has not been completed by this time you can contact WINconnect after-hours on 1300 448 862.

Do I need to be at home for connection?

In most cases you do not need to be present for connection to occur, however you do need to ensure your main switch in your tenancy is turned off. If you wish to confirm if you need to be present call us.

How do I make a complaint or provide feedback?

Contact us and one of our Customer Experience Team will endeavour to resolve your enquiry. In some cases, we may request you notify us of your concerns in writing. We will make every effort to resolve your concerns promptly.

If concerns remain, you may request to speak to a supervisor who will review your case and advise any decisions reached. Some matters, such as supply quality problems, have to be referred to a distributor and may take longer to resolve due to their technical nature. We’ll let you know if there’s likely to be any significant delay and keep you up to date as we are notified of progress.

Whatever the problem, contacting us first is generally the quickest way to fix things, and often helps us make improvements for other customers.

If you’ve escalated the matter through our supervisor and you still don’t feel as though your complaint’s been resolved, we suggest you contact our local ombudsman. You can find there detail here.

General Information

How do I contact WINconnect?

WINconnect can be contacted on 1300 791 970 (Australia Only) or +61 3 9832 0000 (Outside Australia) between 8am – 5pm (AEST), alternatively you may complete an online enquiry form.

How do I voice a concern?

Contact us and one of our customer service team will endeavour to resolve your enquiry. In some cases, we may request you notify us of your concerns in writing. We will make every effort to resolve your concerns promptly.

If concerns remain, you may request to speak to a supervisor who will review your case and advise any decisions reached. Some matters, such as supply quality problems, have to be referred to a distributor and may take longer to resolve due to their technical nature. We’ll let you know if there’s likely to be any significant delay and keep you up to date as we are notified of progress.

Whatever the problem, contacting us first is generally the quickest way to fix things, and often helps us make improvements for other customers. If by any chance you are not satisfied, you can refer your concerns to the relevant tribunal in your state that can act as a dispute resolution party (e.g. VCAT or NCAT).

How do I claim a concession?

If you have a valid concession card you may be eligible for a government concession.

For further information, speak with our customer service team on 1300 791 970.

How do I apply to the WINconnect 'No Contact Register'?

WINconnect maintains its No Contact Register for those customers who wish not to be contacted in the following ways:

  • Person to person contact (such as door to door sales) and
  • Direct Mail contact (such as junk mail)

For customers who are added to the No Contact Register, you will remain on the register for two years from the date of your request. After this period, you will need to contact us to be placed back on the register.

To be added to the WINconnect No Contact Register, please email your details to customercomms@winconnect.com.au Please be aware that the No Customer Contact Register does not extend to telemarketing or electronic marketing (such as email). You can manage these preferences by contacting our Customer Experience Team on 1300 791 790 (8am – 6pm AEST, Mon- Fri) or emailing enquiries@winconnect.com.au

The Energy Industry

What is a Generator?

Generators are the companies responsible for the generation of electricity.

Electricity is generated in power stations using either fossil fuels (like coal or gas) or renewable energy sources (like wind, water or solar).

What is a Distributor?

Electricity distributors own and maintain the networks that carry electricity to residences and businesses, this includes powerlines, power poles and underground cables. Distributors are your first point of contact for questions about interruptions to your electricity supply, such as fallen powerlines. Distributors operate within specific geographical areas.

The distribution companies in the National Electricity Market are:

NSW: AusGrid, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy

ACT: ActewAGL

VIC: CitiPower, Powercor, AusNet Services, United Energy, Jemena

TAS: Aurora Energy

SA: SA Power Networks

QLD: Energex, Ergon

What is an Energy Retailer?

An energy retailer is a licensed business responsible for invoicing electricity consumption. Authorised electricity retailers buy electricity from generators through wholesale markets and sell to the end consumer.

What is an Exempt Seller?

Exempt sellers buy energy from an energy retailer and resell the energy within a private network.  They are usually Owners Corporations, Body Corporates or Shopping Centre Owners.  WINconnect, under our WINenergy brand, acts as an agent on behalf of the exempt seller, providing them with billing services, expertise and compliance with the exempt seller guidelines. WINconnect also holds energy retail authorisations (National and Victoria) and conforms to relevant consumer protection regimes.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Our friendly Customer Service team are happy to assist.

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