Revealed: How your dog could drive up your energy bill – as tradies reveal the horrific bites they've received
- Two energy companies won't let workers to enter yards with unrestrained dogs
- The ban comes after a spate of 71 vicious canine attacks in just over a year
- The new ruling will come into effect on January 14 and apply to dogs of all sizes
- Four dog attacks last year resulted in metre readers being hospitalised overnight
- 'The safety of our employees has to come first' said Ergon Energy spokesperson
It might sound like ruff justice, but owning a dog could drive up your electricity bills.
Two energy companies in Queensland will no longer allow their workers to enter yards with unrestrained dogs to read electricity meters after a spate of vicious attacks.
Not having an accurate meter reading can drive up costs as bills are based on estimates.
Ergon Energy and Energex jointly recorded 71 injuries from dog bites – as well as 199 near-misses – between July 2017 and October 2018.
Four workers had to be hospitalised for several nights after being attacked, and one worker said he was 'fed up of being bitten by dogs'.
Ergon Energy and Energex in Queensland will no longer allow their workers to enter yards with unrestrained dogs after a spate of vicious attacks
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The ban will come into effect on January 14 and will apply to dogs of any size.
The level of safety before entering a yard will be decided by the energy worker at the time.
'The safety of our employees has to come first and that means if there is a dog on a property that isn't restrained – we won't go in to do work of any kind,' Ergon Energy Area Manager Wayne Alderman said.
The two businesses jointly recorded 71 injuries from dog bites – as well as 199 near-misses – between July 2017 and October 2018
A female worker was bitten on her head and dragged along by a dog, while another worker said he was attacked by two large dogs, one of which viciously bit into his back leg
In one incident, Mr Alderman said a dog bit a young female meter reader on the back of her head and dragged her along.
'She was hospitalised and had some very serious injuries around her head and ear,' he told The Courier Mail.
'We've had people in the southeast part of the state that have had to go in for surgery to their hands because their tendons have been damaged.'
Brisbane Energex worker Roger Peries said he was bitten by a homeowner's dog after they forgot to shut their two animals inside.
The ban will come into effect on January 14 and will apply to dogs of all types and sizes
Four workers had to be hospitalised for several nights after their attacks, and one worker said he was 'fed up of being bitten by dogs'
'The frightening part was seeing these two dogs charging down the driveway – my first instinct was "have I got time to make the gate?",' he told ABC.
Mr Peries said one of the dogs stood in front of him while the other went behind him and grabbed his calf.
While many are pleased with the introduction of the ban, some have criticised it as 'excessive'.
RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty understood the reason for its implementation, but called it 'a bit of an overkill' and stressed pet owners should not restrain their animals for long periods.
While many are pleased with the introduction of the ban, some have criticised it as 'excessive'
Mr Alderman said options would be discussed with customers for what to do if no one is at home to restrain a dog at the time of a meter reading.
'In some cases where there is a dangerous dog or known access issue, a remote read meter will be installed,' he said.
Energex spokesman Rob Mitchell said it would 'work with customers and communities to make the new safety measures work so we have a good outcome for our people and our customers'.
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