Origin Energy breach: No evidence customer data published on dark web by hackers, leadership says

Origin Energy’s leadership says there is no evidence hacked customer data has been published on the dark web, after a major breach.

Hackers stole roughly 900,000 customers’ and former customers’ data, including names, addresses and dates of birth, while up to 60 full bank account numbers and around 100 ID document numbers were accessed during the July hack.

Origin had been focused on supporting impacted customers, and had taken steps towards preventing future incidents, chairman Scott Perkins said.

“We have seen no evidence of the information being published on the internet or the dark web to date; however we note this risk remains and affected customers will need to remain vigilant to any suspicious activity or scams,” Mr Perkins told shareholders at Origin’s annual meeting in Sydney on Wednesday.

“Unfortunately, individuals and businesses, no matter where they are around the world, face a growing threat from this sort of criminally motivated cyber activity.”

Origin previously copped criticism for not taking serious action on the breach or informing affected customers until July 22, despite becoming aware of a possible breach on July 2.

Chief executive Frank Calabria, who has previously said the information did not become credible until the later date, ignored the incident in his shareholder address.

Instead, he focused on the energy transition and major policy reforms, including the domestic gas reservation, the National Electricity Market review and environmental regulation reforms.

“What these reforms need most is durability,” Mr Calabria said.

“Energy and climate policy has too often shifted with the political cycle, and that uncertainty has a price: investment gets deferred, projects stall, and the cost of that delay ultimately lands on customers and on the broader economy.”

Origin’s boss flagged imminent announcements on the domestic gas reservation plan, and said the company wanted to see a “very well-functioning” gas market.

“A gas price that’s conducive to manufacturing and firming electricity, and at the same time, we want that price to provide an incentive for investment in future gas production in Australia,” Mr Calabria said.

Outside the Sydney meeting, protectors rallied against rising bill costs.

“Origin Energy has been making absolutely obscene profits over the past four years while failing to do anything to make bills affordable and provide relief to customers who are trapped in debt,” Stop The Bill Shock campaign spokesperson Kristin O’Connell said.

Origin held its 2027 financial year earnings guidance steady, with an expected operating income range of between $1.55 and $1.85 billion.

Gas production from its Australia Pacific LNG project expected to be 625 to 670 petajoules, down from 668 petajoules in 2026, with increased drilling activity helping to partially offset that natural gas field decline in the coming years.

Origin’s share price edged slightly lower during the leaders’ addresses, easing 0.2 per cent to $11.53 in early trade.