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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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Hall
Hall from NSW commented:

After all the crap we've heard from almost all of the electricity suppliers...we are now about to have an unsustainable excessively harsh price jump placed on our one of essential needs. I really do object ! 

mary
mary from NSW commented:

I changed to "Click Energy" to save 17%. First full quarter bill my usage was 3320 Kwts ,2nd quarter 3953, 3rd quarter 4583, 4th quarter 5383.During this 12 months, I had not changed or added to my appliances, nor had I changed my usage in any dramatic way. To find out what was happening, I got an electrician to check my appliances in case there was something wrong. He could not find any problems. Click then sent out Endeavour Energy to check my meters.The first person who came out,after working at the meter box for about an hour,came and told me that his equipment had broken down and he would have to send someone else to check the meters.The next person came came about a week later. Surprise, surprise, there was nothing wrong with the meters.The next quarter bill has now arrived, usage is 4045 Kwts. I have also been charged $82.50 for the meter testing.I find this all very suspicious but cannot do anything more than I have done. 

Nerrel
Nerrel from NSW replied to mary:

That is outrageous Mary. I haven't changed and your events have confirmed my fears in staying put. Have you tried communicating with your Ombudsman? Just a thought. 

mary
mary from NSW replied to Nerrel:

Nerrel, Thank you for your response.I do not know if my finger should be pointing at Click or Endeavour. I would just love to find out. I can confirm that each time the meter was read,I would get someone from my family to confirm the reading and it appeared to be correct.Something though is wrong. 

Nerrel
Nerrel from NSW replied to mary:

Hi Mary, electricity & gas companies bill us on guesstimates of consumption. My electricity went up outrageously once and when I phoned them the next bill was more in line with previous ones. I personally think it is fraudulent that they do not charge us on 'precise' usage. For goodness sakes, if a Coke machine can send electronic transmission back to their depot to advise it needs stock replenishment, why on earth can't our meters send exact usage transmission back to the utility depots.There would be no need to have our meters physically read then. We are in the 21st century are we not? Yet businesses seem to trade still in the dark ages. 

Nerrel
Nerrel from NSW commented:

We are about to start looking at solar panels being installed to reduce our electricity consumption. It's like finding a needle in a haystack with the different manufacturers and installers. My last quarter bill was $381 (family of 3) and my relatives was $190 (family of 3). 

Simon
Simon from NSW commented:

Every account that comes along, we have been able to use slightly less electricity than the one before, but we still seem to pay more for less. This is with AGL. We have solar which is a big help, but worry what will happen when the rebate ceases. 

John
John from NSW replied to Simon:

I was with AGL and, same as you, my electricity bill kept going up and up and up. I too am on solar power. I switched over to Click energy and because of the rebate I either pay very little or nothing. I felt I was being ripped off by AGL and after switching I've come to the conclusion that Click is much cheaper than AGL or I was, in fact being ripped off!!! 

mark
mark from NSW commented:

We are a dual income family of 4 with two teenagers. In the past 6 years we have seen our bill go from $350 a quarter to $950 a quarter and now back to $650 a quarter. Its one of our biggest family bills that we face among the plethora of other bills a family has to deal with. Electricity is not an option it is an essential across all income and ages. Its price needs to be governed, set realistically right now and fixed to cpi with pensioner discounts. Its price cannot be bandied about by greedy power companies who seek to monopolise the price and therefore supply of this vital utility. 

Nerrel
Nerrel from NSW replied to mark:

Well said Mark. 

jon
jon from VIC commented:

To all electricity providers and retailers, IF YOUR BUYING POWER AT 5c per Kwh, the CONSUMER SHOULD BE PAYING 10c per Kwh. This works well in other countries, so why are you financial parasites making people suffer? Electricity is an ESSENTIAL SERVICE, IF YOU CAN'T DO THE RIGHT THING BY EVERYBODY, GIVE IT BACK TO THE GOVT. TO REGULATE AND PISS OFF AND DO SOMETHING ELSE FOR A LIVING!! 

Lynette
Lynette from NSW commented:

I have seen a drop in my electricity bill since the removal of the carbon tax, however electricity is still priced too high as we are all paying to subsidise overseas companies to build their wind farms and those with solar panels who receive subsidies. With our abundant coal we should have the cheapest electricity in the world as we used to have before all this "green" madness took hold. 

Marguerite
Marguerite from NSW commented:

Please consider highly subsidised (not completely free) solar panels for pensioners, with the excess generated, to go back to the grid for free & be held in an 'account' which can be drawn down in times of higher usage - when/if that occurs. Of course firstly the panels have to be able to be turned off easily at ground level, in case of fire or for maintenance. The same 'energy banking' system should apply to all those who have already installed free panels & gradually(and fairly) introduced over a period, for those who paid full price. Thanks, Maarg 

Pamela
Pamela from NSW commented:

Just heard comments on 2GB saying it is a grab from electricity companies. Please something has to stop these companies getting our money for themselves not for providing the services they are responsible for. 

jennifer
jennifer from NSW commented:

Please don't put us back onto the dim dark and cold ages where we can kill ourselves or others by kerosene or candle power, or even bringing indoors bbq's etc to try to keep warm, as some people are now doing.We have earned the right to have decent heat light and cooking equipment., don't you think? This is Australia remember!!!! I have decided to stay with origin as they are offering only the same discount if that is what it is called as ever one else.!!!! Jennifer Shaw 

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