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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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carolyn
carolyn from NSW commented:

Good luck ,I hope you get somewhere.I am only on a pension and fear for when my electricity is due. I use an electric throw rug to try and keep warm the go to bed early and get up late to save power,we shouldn't have to live like this 

robyn
robyn from NSW commented:

Stop giving wind farms our hard earned money. If people want to invest in wind farms let them invest their money. Look after Australians Greg Hunt 

Pauline
Pauline from VIC commented:

We are retired, but only my husband gets the pension as I am too young. He does not get the amount for single age pensions but about $300- per fortnight less. We are very frugal with our electricity use. My sister who is on a very low income goes to bed very early in the evening as she cannot afford to warm the house and it is warm in bed. 

John
John from NSW commented:

Why are they looking for increases when they have reduced prices from 1st July 2015 

robert
robert from NSW replied to John:

John,Look at which side of an election we receive a promise of a benefit and when we get an unannounced revocation of the benefit in an even larger theft of our money. Not hard to work out mate. 

PETER
PETER from NSW commented:

WHY ARE MOST OF THE OFFERS NOT INCLUDING SOLAR CUSTOMERS ??????????? 

Anthony
Anthony from NSW commented:

I have tried to change supplier but what I've found is that as soon as I say I have solar the price goes up and the feed in is very low. what we need is some pressure on the NSW government to get some guts to stand up to the power companies, how is it fair that we sell it to the suppliers at 5c/Kw and then are forced to buy it back hours later for 30+c/Kw. How about a 50up program on getting a politician to grow some and get what's fair, around one for one would be a win win situation. 

Lora
Lora from VIC commented:

Good luck in your endeavours on our behalf! We become frustrated when we save on usage, but still seem to pay more with each account. Energy accounts are our biggest expense, and give us cause for concern. Lora 

robert
robert from NSW commented:

I can't add anything more than I have previously ,except to wish you all the best of good luck in our fight . 

david
david from NSW commented:

I have been collecting old wood from my neighbourhood because I can't afford the winter power bill.I am on a pension but it is not enough to cover my winter electricity bill. The proposal to increase the power prices will have an adverse effect on my living standards. The regulator should consider that pensioners paid taxes all their working lives and are the ones most affected.So much for the "Lucky Country",..,so little for the senoirs & the elderly 

Mark
Mark from NSW commented:

Originally we were encouraged to conserve oour use of energy so we did so and that resulted not in savings but price increases. This has to stop. Promises by successive government has been outright lies much like the promise to reduce and control CTP/Green Slip prices which have just exploaded over the years. 

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