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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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paul
paul from NSW commented:

they said my electricity bill would go down but it has gone up extra five dollars a fortnight. 

Peter
Peter from NSW commented:

We should be looking at all types of electricity supply,seeing what is the most efficient and then making it affordable to everyone. 

Lynn
Lynn from NSW commented:

We are already freezing in winter & boiling in summer because we can't afford power bills. What do they want us to do, sell everything & live in the bush & wrap bark & leaves around ourselves. 

Chris
Chris from NSW commented:

The local Sydney (and possibly other cities'& suburban) Councils could SAVE us multiple MILLIONS yearly, by promoting and enforcing a policy for planting only LOW-GROWING TREES below ALL suburban electricity power lines. The lines are usually only on one side of each street. Plant taller on opposite side, and plant LOWER bushier shrubs under powerlines. The nuisance and costs of lift-platform trucks, grinder-mulchers, 3-5+ high-priced very specialist tree surgeons, also with electrical risk-management skills, is HUGE. And from a photographer's view, the severely damaged trees are bloody UGLY and often barely self-supporting. So they can be made dangerous as well. So, let's MODIFY this Councils' Green-ways Agenda and save MILLIONS for less expensive Electricity supply. Thanks, Chris 

Shelley
Shelley from NSW replied to Chris:

I strongly agree with everything you say, Chris. Parramatta council is in exactly the same position. 

Cheryl
Cheryl from NSW commented:

I have only used my electric blanket to keep warm in bed as it is too expensive to have air conditioning or heaters on as being on pension and trying to warm up my house is too expensive. Guess a lot of us do it this way. 

John
John from NSW commented:

Keep up the pressure and excellent work and representation of us all.. 

john
john from NSW commented:

Electricity compnay complained that the inceases in prices were the costs of pole and wires and not the Carbon Tax. I beleive this is a hoax as they knew the Gillard Government would fall and they still wanted the extra money they put on their bills under the carbon tax under the guise of Poles and wires. 

frank
frank from NSW commented:

Its time the government and power companies realised that consumers cannot afford the constant price increases. Almost every morning you hear about house fires [some fatal] where people have gone to silly lengths to warm their houses because they can't afford their power bills. We are supposed to be a first world country still. 

frank
frank from NSW commented:

Its time the government and power companies realised that consumers cannot afford the constant price increases. Almost every morning you hear about house fires [some fatal] where people have gone to silly lengths to warm their houses because they can't afford their power bills. We are supposed to be a first world country still. 

Geoff
Geoff from NSW commented:

Sydney County Council did great job and kept the lid on price.. Geoff from NSW. 

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