The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has asked homeowners to assess their home energy storage systems following a countrywide recall of batteries as concerns abound in relation to overheating.
Nestled within the Department of the Treasury, the ACCC was instituted as the main consumer watchdog in the Australian Government.
The Consumer Commission has issued a stern warning that the LG-branded storage batteries that feature cells from a certain production lot manufactured from around March 2017 to September 2018 could overheat and burst into flames.
LG Battery Recall
The South Korean LG Energy Solution made a recall of the batteries in February last year of approximately 7,200 batteries from the batches manufactured during that period. These had been installed in LG, Opal and SolaX branded residential energy storage systems.
In a statement, LG promised to recall all the affected storage batteries for free though the ACCC claims that around 6,400 of all the faulty storage batteries were yet to be replaced. The ACCC is worried that majority of these consumers could be unaware of the recent recall or potential fire danger.
The regulator noted that from October 2019, there are 9 fires in Australia that related to the potentially perilous batteries. The US has recorded five fires that caused damage to property and serious injuries to some two folks.
“We encourage consumers to urgently check if they have an LG, Solax or Opal solar energy storage battery which is included in the recall by LG,” stated ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard.
The batteries in question have already caused fire damage to properties as well as serious injuries or even death.
Rickard further noted that the ACCC was working hand in hand with energy regulators in both territories and states to create awareness about the battery recall.
Approved electrical contractors that have installed storage systems linked to the affected batteries have been requested to contact their customers and inform them of the battery recall.
Consumers that own an LG energy storage battery purchased during the period in question have been asked to urgently contact LG in order to discuss the way forward including when the free replacement would be available.
The affected home storage batteries were also supplied in other solar power storage systems brands and so it’s necessary that consumers check if they have a battery storage system that was affected by the recall by confirming the serial numbers listed on the LG website.
Gary Newcombe, Western Australian Commissioner in charge of Consumer Protection has asked those who installed the faulty batteries to act fast.
“Product recalls are sometimes met with apathy, but this is not the time to hesitate or delay,” he said. “Immediate action needs to be taken before the fire risk results in damage to your home or potentially an injury or death. I urge owners of LG solar batteries in their home to check the model numbers on their units and treat this issue with the utmost urgency.”
The batteries being recalled were released into the market at different periods from around April 2017 to December 2019. The only models affected include RESU13, RESU10, RESU6.5, RESU3.3, RESU10H Type-R, RESU7H Type-R, RESU10H Type-C, RESU10H Type-R (Secondary), S/A Gen2 2P (EM048126P3S7) and S/A Gen2 1P (EM048063P3S4).
Electrical regulators have recommended that the batteries be switched off. And that any affected consumer switching off their systems should first check the instruction manuals that accompanied the storage systems or call the manufacturer or installer for advice.
