New manager for EOQ Cairns office

Energy Ombudsman Barry Adams today welcomed Tula Hewitt as the new regional manager for North Queensland.

"It is great to have Tula come on board as Energy Ombudsman Queensland's (EOQ) new Regional Manager for North Queensland," he said.

"Tula is passionate about helping people and comes to us with 18 years of dispute management experience.

"She will be an asset to the North Queensland office but more importantly she will be a champion for energy consumers who are unable to resolve their electricity and gas disputes."

EOQ is a free, fair and independent dispute resolution service for Queensland's energy consumers.

Based in Cairns, the North Queensland region extends north of Mackay to the Torres Strait Islands and west to Mount Isa.

Last financial year EOQ assisted 570 people from the region resolve their electricity and gas disputes.

A Cairns resident for the past three years, Ms Hewitt said she was excited to be joining EOQ.

"The region has such a unique set of energy issues - from drought-affected farmers in the west facing financial hardship to cyclones on the coast causing major disruptions to supply," she said.

"It will be a challenge, and a great opportunity, to work with consumers and energy suppliers to find solutions that meet everyone's needs."

Ms Hewitt previously worked with the Residential Tenancies Authority, Relationships Australia, Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland and the Department of Justice in both Cairns and Brisbane.