Power problems: Addressing economic abuse in the context of Australian energy utilities

For many people, turning on a light or heating their home is routine. For victim‑survivors of family violence, even these basic necessities can become tools of control and harm. This policy paper shares key findings from the first in-depth study of family violence and seeking help from energy utilities. It shines a light on a lesser-known form of economic abuse, highlighting how essential services like electricity and gas can be weaponised by perpetrators. This paper is designed for policymakers, regulators, family violence specialists and the utilities sector to better understand economic abuse in the context of energy utilities, and what we can do about it.