In short Energy and water hardship has become more widespread. To rebuild customer trust, utilities need to move beyond reactive support and rethink their operating model, customer pathways and cross-sector partnerships centred on vulnerability. Learn more Cost-of-living pressures continue, with around 1 in 51 Australian households experiencing, or at risk of, energy hardship. Of those, average energy debt sits at $2,3142 for customers with both electricity and gas.