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NewsHelp us tell the court what electricity consumers really think
Help us tell the court what electricity consumers really think

Help us tell the court what electricity consumers really think

Tags: FiftyUp Club
Last updated by Chris Zinn on

It’s crunch time for the future of your power bills and the difference this time is we can do something about it by collecting together our views.

If you’re fed up, as I believe many of us are, with others deciding what is in our best interests we are in a position as rarely before to let them hear it from the horses’ mouth.

Networks NSW is fighting power price cuts of $106-$313 proposed by the national Energy Regulator, saying they are not in consumers’ long-term interests.

The Australian Competition Tribunal has been hearing opposing arguments, but the court is yet to hear from consumers themselves and this is where you come in.

It’s fair enough for elders to dictate what might be in kid’s best interests, as any parent knows, but surely in FiftyUp we are savvy enough to speak for ourselves and with some authority.

A recent FiftyUp Club survey found some shocking results, with more than half saying they were afraid to run their heater in mid-winter. 

Those results will form part of our submission to the court hearing the legal battle.

But now, there’s one more piece we need to add to the puzzle:

What is in the long-term interests of consumers when it comes to setting power prices? Safety? Affordability? Reliability?

Have regulators got the balance right in recent years?

The court has been debating these questions the past week and we want to ask real consumers what THEY think.

Consumers over the age of fifty represent more than 50% of national household buying power and are heavily affected by power price fluctuations.

Who knows? You might have a different view to the lawyers currently making this decision on our behalf. Only you can tell us the answer to that.

The court must decide the right level of investment in the poles and wires. No one wants to see important assets run down, but all investment is funded through your bills, so it’s important to get the balance right. 

Fill in this short questionnaire and we’ll make sure your voice is heard in the current court battle over power prices.

We will be providing your answers directly to the Judge who will make the final decision. 

But first, we need 1000s of you to have your say:

Click Here to answer 5 key questions for the court

Then continue the conversation in the forum below.

 

Originally posted on .

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Help us tell the court what electricity consumers really think

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Elizabeth
Elizabeth from NSW commented:

Lived in Victoria all my life, and paid on average $90 per quarter for the past 20 or so years. Single family, with gas heating. Moved to NSW mid 2011, and now the same electricity usage costs me on average $450 a quarter, with the heating bill in Winter about $900 for the quarter, and ditto in Summer. That's a 500% increase in energy costs, or the equivalent of a small home loan mortgage. I am considering moving back to Victoria, solely due to the enormous energy cost in NSW. Reluctant to turn the heater on in winter, and ditto cooler on in Summer. It is probably cheaper to go driving for most of the day, using the car airconditioner to keep me warm in winter, and cool in summer. 

Elizabeth
Elizabeth from NSW commented:

Lived in Victoria all my life, and paid on average $90 per quarter for the past 20 or so years. Single family, with gas heating. Moved to NSW mid 2011, and now the same electricity usage costs me on average $450 a quarter, with the heating bill in Winter about $900, and ditto in Summer. That's a 500% increase in energy costs, or the e 

Elizabeth
Elizabeth from NSW commented:

Lived in Victoria all my life, and paid on average $90 per quarter for the past 20 or so years. Single family, with gas heating. Moved to NSW mid 2011, and now the same electricity usage costs me on average $450 a quarter, with the heating bill in Winter about $900, and ditto in Summer. That's a 500% increase in energy costs, or the e 

Sandra
Sandra from VIC commented:

cannot afford to stay home and run heating. To keep heating cost down at home only run it a few hours on arising and few hours at night whilst watching free TV. Sandy, VIC 

mary
mary from NSW commented:

The electricity providers should have to show why the electricity is so costly We hear of electricity offering discounts so why is electricity to pricey? 

Steve
Steve from ACT commented:

Biggest problem has been Governments, of both political flavours, is rather than adequately maintaining and replacing distribution networks, and investing in new and up coming energy technologies, profits have been siphoned off to fund trendy schemes designed promote re-election. As a result the supply and distribution networks have declined to a state where they are in desperate need of repair and in some cases replacement. However, now the cost repair and upgrade of the electricity systems are unaffordable for the State Government and thus the need to sell these assets off to those who can afford and have the ability to do so. There is a cost however and that cost will again have to be born by us the consumers due to the lack of foresight and greed of previous Governments, otherwise no electricity. Sad we have to pay twice for something for which we and our forebears have essentially already paid for via supply and service charges. 

Raymond
Raymond from NSW commented:

John from NSW - Unfortunately as always, its those that can less afford cost rises with electricity, water and other utilities that are effected the most and who have less disposible income.... The more affluent (like politicians) don'gt really care about additional costs because it does not effect them. 

Lisa
Lisa from NSW commented:

Electricity should be affordable, reliable and accessible for all.. low income earners, pensioners, disabled should not have to compromise their health and well being stressing over the next bill. We were "the Lucky Country" but now unfortunately, greed and environmental degradation will ensure ongoing water issues, food production compromise and wild weather events. All because no one has the courage to stand for long term sustainability, and environmental protection. Our decision makers are power (excuse the pun) hungry, greedy, short sighted individuals... such a sad state to be in when so much natural wealth available. 

Carl
Carl from NSW commented:

We are in a regional area paying council rates and electricity rates higher than in the suburbs with less services. Both these charges have dramatically increased since my retirement on a superannuation pension. So to maintain an adequate and reasonable standard of living we have had to drastically cut consumption on Electricity to be able to afford to maintain a reasonable standard of living that I expect to enjoy in retirement. I'd like to go off the grid all together so as not need this service at all, but at least keep reducing our reliance on it. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

ONLY BAD NEWS this ABBOTT GOVERNMENT: have a thought for the South Australian mothers who have seriously disabled children who are refused at the moment any help from the Commonwealth 'cause of an error of the Gillard's government ! OUR CHILDREN ARE NUMBERS, ARE ONLY WORTH "WHAT THEY COST US" FOR THIS OBNOXIOUS GOVERNMENT, HUMANS COME LAST, FIRST THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR ! 

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