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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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David
David from NSW commented:

To save money this year so far I have not used a heater of any type, electric blanket or the air con. 

Marie
Marie from NSW replied to David:

DAVID ,that is terrible , we seem to be going backwards , to the dark ages and it would be worse under Labor /Greens and that worries me greatly . 

Shirley
Shirley from VIC commented:

Electricity is a basic utility that NO HOMES can do without and should be supplied to everyone efficiently, safely at a very reasonable cost. 

james
james from NSW commented:

We flog all our resources off overseas at bargain prices and we seem to pay thru the nose for every thing, the governments seem to be outer touch with the real world. 

Paul
Paul from NSW commented:

I'm fed up with our pursuit of unrealistic renewable energy targets. We are subsidising foreign companies to build wind farms which are uneconomical and a blight on the landscape. Our energy costs increase to compensate, Coal power will not be dispensable in the foreseeable future. All of this "save-the -planet" stuff is giving someone a 'warm fuzzy' feeling but not the average consumer. 

Leslie
Leslie from NSW commented:

I don't agree with selling gas cheaply to China and increasing prices in Australia to cover the costs. When carbon tax was dropped we were supposed to get cheaper power- what happened!! 

John
John from NSW commented:

Just retired at 70, and already looks like my pension will take a big hit. We voted this government in to look after us, not have us suffer the cold in winter!! 

Roberta
Roberta from NSW commented:

Also agree with Robert - where is our gas reservation policy? Look after Australians first 

Graham
Graham from NSW commented:

Well they are at it again, trying to convince someone to let them take advantage of the community in general. Will these money grubbers ever be happy with the staggering pay and bonus they already receive or do they really want people to live in the dark. I think it is time we insist the various governments stop selling and or leasing our state owned assets. Surely it is as simple as living within the means of the vast income available to them each and every year. We have a certain amount to survive on and these clowns are just selling down every asset we have to make themselves look re-electable in 4 years time. Our STATE Government is possibly the biggest business in the state and these politicians clearly do not have the business accrument to run a big business. Stop selling our Electricity Assets and other Assets to the likes of AGL and others and start looking after the State and the People of NSW. Graham NSW 

jon
jon from VIC commented:

When your in court see if you can find out who to sue when a family member dies due the cold (or heat) because power prices are out of reach and they can't afford heating or cooling. That should put the cat among the pigeons. 

Roberta
Roberta from NSW commented:

thanks for fighting this for us 

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