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NewsLast chance for consumers to have their say on electricity prices
Last chance for consumers to have their say on electricity prices

Last chance for consumers to have their say on electricity prices

Tags: Energy Information FiftyUp Club
Last updated by Chris Zinn on

Consumers have 2 more days to have their say on soaring electricity prices in NSW, before they have their “day in court” on Thursday.

The tribunal regulating competition in Australia is opening its doors to the community and asking them what they think about electricity prices.

The 127,000-member FiftyUp Club is now canvassing consumers’ views and preparing a submission on their behalf.

Over-50’s particularly feel the pinch from hefty electricity bills. More than half (52%) say they are afraid to run their heater for fear of big winter bills.

In the past ten years the only cost that has gone up more than electricity (up 116%) was tobacco (up 127%), but electricity is a basic utility.

“The FiftyUp Club will be fronting the tribunal and will submit the views of its members for consideration in setting electricity prices,” Christopher Zinn, spokesperson for the FiftyUp Club said.

“The over 50’s are hurt most by increases in utilities, like electricity and gas, and any fluctuations can impact on their standard of living.”

“We live in a country where no one should be falling through the cracks in winter or going cold because of financial strain. Unfortunately this is all too common.”

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

The networks argue the cuts will lead to more blackouts and will not allow for adequate bushfire mitigation in regional areas.

There are only days left for consumers to take part in the FiftyUp Club Power Price Submission. Join for free at fiftyupclub.com for more details.

Originally posted on .

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Last chance for consumers to have their say on electricity prices

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mike
mike from NSW commented:

I do not mind when paying for electricity how do they justify the ancillary charges for pretending the electricity charges are correct 

Michael
Michael from NSW commented:

We need clean, very affordable energy, cost that will not rise in the coming years.Pensioners have little to go on .....electricity is important in every household.. 

Mitch
Mitch from NSW commented:

There are certain types of services and infrastructure that all three levels of government need to provide regardless of profit or loss. Especially when there are no private alternatives i.e. electricity, water, roads, emergency services, etc. requiring that some of these services must run at a profit is just plain stupid. Would anybody expect the police or fire brigades run at a profit or even charge for basic services. There are also some parts of or infrastructure that is operated by government that should never be sold off as the risk of "the bottom line" causing reduced funding and hence causing critical failures in the infrastructures or services. In the same vein selling off infrastructure for a short term profit is also stupid i.e. NSW Lotteries. Governments should be allowed to establish "special" institutions in times of need that support our citizens where private/commercial institutions do not provide services. During this drought the Fed government should have established a special purpose bank to support our farmers and ranchers with no interest loans to allow them to stay on the land and not be foreclosed by commercial interest lending institutions. Selling off the poles and wires is one of those infrastructures that should remain in the hands of government and as to organisations "gold plating" the network s just plain stupid. As someone who has a family member began working almost 30 years ago for the Sydney County Council and through to its current structure I can say that the investment back into Ausgrid is just barely keeping up with the maintenance required as well as installing more for areas like North Ryde, Chatswood, Sydney CDB and any where else there is high density housing. If this was such a good idea then next up we should be selling off the pipes and storm water drains from Sydney Water or the railway tracks from NSW Trains. Mitch 

John
John from VIC commented:

Great campaign for NSW even though I live in Victoria but issues are similar. I agree Ian about our PM can't trust him on electricity prices as well as many other issues. The modest price decrease last year from removal of carbon tax was short lived as prices have soared in 2015 !! 

Denise
Denise from NSW commented:

We put solar power on our house and the bill is still the same hasn't gone down in the 6 yrs as a matter of fact it has risen 

Ian
Ian from NSW commented:

Electricity prices going UP???? Is this another broken promise from Captain Australia after blaming the extent of power costs on the former Carbon "Tax"? Can't rely on the media for a straight answer as it's a continuing game of yes/no with them, and the pollies just remain in a state of perpetual communal daze and gobbledegook. So much for much vaunted transparency for the ever suffering consumer. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

The Labor party are a disaster for electricity prices. There partnership with the greens will result in soaring electricity prices all for no benefit. 

lyn
lyn from NSW commented:

Thanks Shelley for your reply. I thought I was the only one having a problem understanding Click Energy's people and invoices, so nice to hear it is not only me. When my son, Electrical Engineer, could not understand either and my nephew, a Solicitor for Energy Companies told me they were not being transparent with their prices I was annoyed. I thought this should have been checked out by both 2GB and Fifty up Club before being recommended to us. Apparently the 17 percent discount means nothing unless you can see the charges. 

lyn
lyn from NSW commented:

Thanks Shelley for your reply. I thought I was the only one having a problem understanding Click Energy's people and invoices, so nice to hear it is not only me. When my son, Electrical Engineer, could not understand either and my nephew, a Solicitor for Energy Companies told me they were not being transparent with their prices I was annoyed. I thought this should have been checked out by both 2GB and Fifty up Club before being recommended to us. Apparently the 17 percent discount means nothing unless you can see the charges. 

lyn
lyn from NSW commented:

Thanks Shelley for your reply. I thought I was the only one having a problem understanding Click Energy's people and invoices, so nice to hear it is not only me. When my son, Electrical Engineer, could not understand either and my nephew, a Solicitor for Energy Companies told me they were not being transparent with their prices I was annoyed. I thought this should have been checked out by both 2GB and Fifty up Club before being recommended to us. Apparently the 17 percent discount means nothing unless you can see the charges. 

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