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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

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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FiftyUp Club
Help us tell the court what electricity consumers really think

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Barry
Barry from QLD commented:

Why is the energy they sell me worth 2.5 times as much as the solar I generate? 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Barry:

Good question ! Should be same price, yes, and IT WILL BE with THE GREENS... 

Jacquie
Jacquie from NSW commented:

Why do power bills reflect charges made bases on postcode. I live in the 2084 postcode area, but am a pensioner and I rent so why should I have to pay more in usage.. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Jacquie:

A CORRUPT SYSTEM is about that, giving the impression that all is 'scientifically' calculated (mentioning the 'scientific' aspect to all things 'electricity, please check the pay packet of the executives in those companies...)... 

Dianne
Dianne from SA commented:

We bought Solar panels because our bills were getting more each quarter. Admittedly the bills are reduced but as for the cost of the panels we have no where recouped the cost and the price paid by AGL has been reduced 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Dianne:

Their executives are on millions/year... and shareholders love a dividend... VOTE GREENS AND STOP WHINGING... 

Harry
Harry from NSW commented:

I do not have enough factual knowledge to answer some of the questions fully and emotional answers do not help anybody. I would like to add, however, that the efforts of billing companies to gather customers, the 'carrots' they offer and their obviously badly run administrations [I can give examples] gives me the perception that the whole industry requires a major shake up. gualid@ihug.com.au 

steve
steve from SA commented:

Went solar and still getting ripped off only gettimg 5.5cent for feed in tarriff 

Warren
Warren from NSW replied to steve:

Seems like you are only being paid 25% of the input price. I suggest it reflects the inability of Energy Suppliers to store the 'feed in' during daylight hours. Until storage devices improve that's probably the value of roof solar input. Labor/Greens sold you a 'pup'. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to steve:

Vote for The Greens, then... 

Bruce
Bruce from NSW commented:

I have installed solar power 12 months ago and at this present time I am starting to see the benefits from it. I am a self funded retiree so like most other people I have to watch my spending and use my electricity when the solar is most beneficial to me. I do not use electric blankets I have changes as many lights to low usage globes as possible and I only use my air con when I have to I have no other type of heating. I agree that the service costs are over the top as they sometimes are larger the the costs of the actual power used and something should be done about them in the way of a reduction or at least no more than 5% of the actual account I cant see how they can be justified in raising this cost every time the cost of power increases. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Bruce:

Have you heard of the words 'deregulation'? 'greed'? 'The Libs'? 

Mark
Mark from NSW commented:

The extrordinary profit taking by successive State Governments over thr past 30-35 yrs has emaciated the proper maintinence and replace ment servicing by the suppliers whose operating funds have been stripped. Large amounts of money are now being provided to correct this short term to make selling the assets more attractive at the same time as foreced redundances and staffcuts are being considered. All of this leaves us in fear of ongoing reliability concerns as well as spiralling costs. Why in heavens name are state or federal goverments subsidising foreign owned wind farms with profits being repatriated to the foreign owners instead of building our own hi tech solar and or other renewab energy systems. Regards Mark Myers 

Warren
Warren from NSW replied to Mark:

Look at Pacific Hydro and well me the source of this company - you'll be surprised. 

Warren
Warren from NSW replied to Warren:

My apology. What I meant is - Google 'Pacific Hydro' and tell me who owns this company. It's not international but owned by the Unions/ACTU - developing windmills and sucking up the $Billions from the public purse - set up by Labor/Greens. That's part of the reason energy costs have gone up because we are paying for these schemes. 

michael
michael from VIC commented:

Installed solar panels and solar hot water to reduce costs and help the environment, only to have the energy retailer up our connection fee and usage rates. No obvious advantage going solar. Have to watch heating usage even with solar !!!!!! 

judith
judith from NSW commented:

I have had a stroke and I cant justify leaving the air-conditioning on overnight to keep the air at a constant heat. I have bought a little 5 finn heater to heat the room. 

robert
robert from NSW commented:

Thanks so much for the work you are doing on our behalf.We are the People we have a voice and we vote. 

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