Charlotte Foster
Relationships

Grandad says power company is to blame for wife leaving him

A 55-year-old man has blamed hefty power bills for the breakdown of his marriage. 

Grandfather Bryn Lawson has been in an ongoing battle with his energy provider, AGL, over bills that Mr Lawson claims are incorrect. 

The Western Sydney resident has accused AGL of using incorrect power meter numbers at his home, with his latest bill coming in at more than $1200.

In attempt to lower his bills, Mr Lawson has tried to drastically reduce his electricity usage, even going so far as to get rid of his fridge. 

“It is a part of the decimation of my marriage to my wife of 35 years,” he told A Current Affair.

“Because I’d come home and the lights would be on, the power would be on and the power bills are high. I’d be saying, ‘What have you got the lights on for, what’s this on for, why’s the heater on’?”

However, even after his wife left, Mr Lawson was the only occupant of the home and his power bills still remained high, ranging anywhere from $900 to $1200.

AGL has apologised to him for the issue and offered credit, but the mistakes keep happening. 

“Fix it AGL. Get your s*it together and fix it mate,” an enraged Mr Lawson said.

He also shivers at night through cold temperatures because he does not want to use his heater to further drive up his bills. 

Mr Lawson, who said he was “sick to his stomach” and “scared” of his electricity bills, is ready to cut the power off.

“I'm just banging my head up against a brick wall with these guys,” he said.

“All I’m gonna get is a bad debt and a big bill I gotta pay off.

“I have no problem at all putting my swag out there, putting my solar panels, my battery and running that fridge out there and living out there.”

Mr Lawson has taken matters into his own hands by taking a picture of his power meter every month and sending the information to AGL three days before his bill is due, but he is still being overcharged just a few days later. 

An AGL spokesperson told A Current Affair the company had apologised to Mr Lawson for his experiences and would work with him to resolve his concerns.

Image credits: A Current Affair

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relationships, electricity bills, power, grandfather