AGL misled SA customers: judge

Energy giant AGL misled customers about discounts to their power bills, a judge has ruled.

The Federal Court on Monday upheld a claim by the consumer watchdog that AGL engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct in statements to South Australian residential customers in 2012.

But Judge Richard White dismissed a separate claim by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission related to statements made by AGL in 2013.

The ACCC alleged that AGL offered discounts to some customers, only to then increase rates which reduced or eliminated the effect of the discounts.

AGL, the largest electricity retailer in SA, supplies about half of the residential market.

The case will return to court on a later date for submissions on penalty and other matters.