Latest news with #Synergy
Boston Globe
18 minutes ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Sneaker designer Asics makes tracks for the Leather District
'We really do believe in this voluntary approach,' Turner said. 'We think it's important for people to balance work and home life. We've found a lot of success with this hybrid approach.' Advertisement The US group is led by Koichiro Kodama, who splits his time between the Boston and California offices. Despite the shrinking office footprint here, Turner said, Asics still hopes to add more people in Boston. Synergy vice president Tim Ferguson said the building's high ceilings, a vestige of its manufacturing past, were a selling point, as was Synergy's ability to have the space ready for Asics within just a few months after their first contact. Synergy acquired it from EQ Office, a Blackstone-owned landlord, last year. Advertisement The Japanese sneaker company's road to Boston starts with its acquisition of Runkeeper, a fitness app developed here that Asics acquired in 2016. Two years later, Asics opened its Summer Street office, to build more of a presence in a city known for its footwear brands. Other shoe companies with major offices within the city limits include Nike-owned Converse and Wolverine-owned Saucony (both near North Station), Reebok (in the Seaport), and New Balance (in Brighton). Puma has its main US office just over the line in Somerville, the Americas headquarters for Clarks is in Needham, and homegrown running shoe company Topo is in Framingham. 'That's part of the reason why we chose Boston,' Turner said. 'There are not many areas that are similar to Boston in that way, that have so many ... footwear brands in that small of an area.' This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston's business scene. Jon Chesto can be reached at
See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Ahmed Elawady's Ramadan 2026 Series Gets Title
Yara Sameh Egyptian actor Ahmed Elawady's upcoming TV series for the Ramadan 2026 drama marathon has received a title. It is set to be filmed under the title, "Ali Clay," and hails from director Mohamed Abdel Salam and scriptwriter Mahmoud Hamdan. Elawady participated last Ramadan with ' Fahd El Batal '. The cast also includes Aida Riyad, Lucy, Safaa El-Toukhi, Ahmed Abdelaziz, Haggag Abdulazim, Mahmoud El Bezzawy, Myrna Noureldin, Essam Elsaka, Sarah Salama, Caroline Azmy, and more. It is scripted by Mahmoud Hamdan, directed by Mohamed Abdel Salam, and produced by Synergy. "Fahd El Batal" marked Elawady and Hamdan's second collaboration after working on the 2023 TV series 'Haq Arab," which achieved great success during its premiere in the holy month of Ramadan. It also witnessed the third collaboration between Noureldin and Elawady's after Season 4 of "Hekayat Banat S4" (2020) and the TV series "Al Hosan Al Aswad Building" (2017). read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
West Australian
4 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Horizon Power says customers not affected by Synergy Centrepay scandal
Horizon Power has confirmed that none of its customers have been affected by the Synergy Centrepay scandal which overcharged nearly 3000 vulnerable customers since 2009. On July 14 the Economic Regulation Authority revealed that Synergy had collected cash through Centrepay — a payment service for Centrelink customers — after vulnerable clients had closed their accounts. It found the government-owned utility, which is the monopoly supplier of electricity on WA's main grid thanks to laws banning competition, overcharged nearly 2845 customers since 2009. Horizon Power, who is the main electricity supplier to regional grids across the State, confirmed that a similar situation had not occurred with their customers. 'Horizon Power is aware of recent reports regarding inactive accounts and can confirm our customers have not been impacted,' a Horizon Power spokesperson said, speaking to the Broome Advertiser on July 18. Regulators found Synergy allegedly failed to notify customers that they had been overcharged within the required 10 business day time frame before hitting the company with an enforcement notice for breaching the State's code of conduct for electricity retailing. The ERA believed $2.3 million remains owed to the Centrelink customers Just hours later, Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said there would be an independent review of Synergy's billing systems. Synergy began contacting customers in April and has so far paid back just 30 per cent of the money owed. Synergy chief Kurt Baker — who has been at the helm since January — said the business 'apologises sincerely' to affected customers. He said Synergy had notified the regulator of the breaches. 'We recognise that the Centrepay bill management system is in place to support vulnerable customers and in this instance, they were let down,' Mr Baker said.
ABC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Synergy to repay $2.29 million after overcharging Centrelink customers for electricity
Western Australia's state-owned power utility overcharged thousands of vulnerable customers over more than a decade, according to a new report. WA's economic watchdog has been probing issues related to customers paying their power bills using Centrepay, which allows for automatic deductions from Centrelink support payments. The Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) found in up to 2,845 cases, the utility had continued to take money from customers' Centrelink payments after they had closed their Synergy accounts. It believes those issues date back to 2009 at a total cost of $2.29 million. Changes to the code of conduct under which Synergy operates means it can only be ordered to repay 459 customers who were affected since February 2023 and are collectively owed $239,250. But Synergy has indicated all customers will be reimbursed. "This is a particularly concerning breach, given Synergy's position as the largest retailer in the state and the vulnerability of this cohort of customers that are receiving Centrelink support," ERA chair Steve Edwell said in a statement. "We would expect Synergy to have systems in place that would have identified these payments accruing in closed accounts — with around 1,000 customers owed more than $500." Synergy is government-owned and WA's largest electricity generator and gas retailer. It provides 52 per cent of electricity to households and businesses in the South West Interconnected System. The system covers Perth and extends from Kalbarri in the north, east to Kalgoorlie and south to Albany. Source: Synergy website In a statement, recently appointed Synergy CEO Kurt Baker apologised to customers affected by the issue, saying "they were let down". The ERA said the utility had been contacting affected customers since April, with around 30 per cent of the money owed paid back so far. "Our systems are complex and identifying impacted customers took some time," Mr Baker said in a statement. "As soon as possible after Centrepay overpayments were confirmed we took steps to resolve the issue and are continuing to do so." The Synergy chief indicated all affected customers dating back to 2009 would be paid back, with about half of all refunds totalling $250 or less. "We also expect Synergy to make changes to its customer management systems so that these sorts of payments are automatically flagged and dealt with," Mr Edwell said. Mr Baker said a "thorough review" would be undertaken to make those changes. "This review will identify any further overpayments on inactive accounts so that we can make refunds," he said. Synergy has been ordered to make those changes and make "best endeavours" to repay all 459 customers by the end of November. The ERA said while six other electricity and gas retailers in the state also charge customers via Centrepay, it did not believe the issue was widespread.
The Age
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Synergy overcharges WA Centrelink customers by $2.3 million
State-owned electricity retailer Synergy has overcharged 2845 of its most vulnerable customers a collective $2.29 million since 2009. Synergy was forced to repay the money and apologise after the over-charges were reported to WA's utility watchdog, the Economic Regulation Authority. The authority found Synergy breached its code of conduct by failing to tell customers within 10 business days that they had been overcharged. Synergy reported to the authority that it continued to accept Centrepay payments from the customers despite their electricity accounts being closed. Centrelink customers can set up Centrepay accounts to deduct payments for utilities like electricity and water before they receive the rest. The Economic Regulation Authority said this equated to about $2.29 million in overcharges since 2009 – around 1000 customers owed more than $500. Synergy said about half of all refunds were $250 or less. Authority Chair Steve Edwell said the breach was particularly concerning given Synergy's position as the largest retailer in the state and the vulnerability of the customers on Centrelink support. 'As a sophisticated and large retailer, we would expect Synergy to have systems in place that would have identified these payments accruing in closed accounts,' he said. 'We also expect Synergy to make changes to its customer management systems so that these sorts of payments are automatically flagged and dealt with.'
