This week the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV) released new quarterly statistics that show a massive drop off in complaints about energy marketing and transfers. During October to December 2013, EWOV experienced a whopping 41% decrease in door-to-door marketing cases relative to the July to September 2013 quarter – a decrease of 158 cases.

It’s no co-incidence that this is also the first reporting quarter since the three big retailers – AGL, EnergyAustralia, and Origin – fully implemented their commitment to voluntarily stop door to door selling.

EWOV did note that there was an increase in marketing cases about medium-sized and smaller energy retailers; this is a trend we recognised in July last year, when we noted a big increase in complaints about Simply Energy and Red Energy being made to us via the Do Not Knock website.

The lessons for energy retailers still undertaking door to door selling is clear- consumers don’t like door to door and this form of marketing generates complaints and dissatisfied consumers. We reiterate our calls for all retailers to take the lead of the big three and stop this unwanted marketing.

EWOV’s Marketing and Transfer Report: January 2014 can be accessed here.