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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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Gary
Gary from NSW commented:

Good luck, we always seem to be paying more but can supply cheaper elsewhere. 

Amos
Amos from VIC commented:

I wish you luck but not hopeful that the people who should listen will do anything to ease the pain! 

martin
martin from NSW commented:

we as Australians own the resources yet our governments both labour and liberal have sold them to overseas companies and therefore we have to match overseas prices. this is wrong. the government should have a tenant that Australia should be supplied first and at a reasonable cost as part of any resource deal 

Bernadette
Bernadette from VIC commented:

Apart from a wood fired heater, we rely on electricity for everything. We put in a 5kw solar system at the beginning of the year and still we have electricity bills of approx $300 a month! We get paid only 10c a kilowatt for whatever we put into the grid, but are paying 35c a kilowatt plus GST (peak) for whatever we use. In addition, we have a monthly supply charge of just over $42. How is that equitable??! I just wish we could afford the solar storage cells and go off the grid completely! We shouldn't have all these stupid little money grabbing billing companies. Electricity is a service and as such, should be in the hands of the government. It also should not attract GST. 

Wendy
Wendy from NSW commented:

I don't understand why IPART can put up electricity prices over the years and the general public has no say in it and must pay the higher prices, but when someone says the prices should come down, the electricity companies can go to court to stop it. Where is the fairness in that? 

billy
billy from NSW commented:

its a scam we have coal power and we have uranium ...3 years ago i paid 400 a quarter now i pay 1200 a quarter and rising ...1 month before the carbon tax was cancelled energy prices went up ...no matter what we do we will lose they will win...i now work in excess of 80 hours a week to survive ...god help those less fortunate enough to earn good money .... 175000 people should have far more power as a group if we jump from one supplier to another chasing a better deal...sorry guys discount through click not as good as should be...good luck 

billy
billy from NSW commented:

its a scam we have coal power and we have uranium ...3 years ago i paid 400 a quarter now i pay 1200 a quarter and rising ...1 month before the carbon tax was cancelled energy prices went up ...no matter what we do we will lose they will win...i now work in excess of 80 hours a week to survive ...god help those less fortunate enough to earn good money .... 175000 people should have far more power as a group if we jump from one supplier to another chasing a better deal...sorry guys discount through click not as good as should be...good luck 

Nicholas
Nicholas from NSW commented:

Electricity in developed countries is a given, we have some of the World's best coal reserves plus natural gas, major export earner whilst we flaggelate ourselves over some carbon dioxide bullshit, totally unproven to sell to China etc whilst we subsidise them for the next 20 years for so called renewable energy! Obama is treading the same path..... Is this World Domination? A new form of Communism? 

Nicholas
Nicholas from NSW commented:

Electricity in developed countries is a given, we have some of the World's best coal reserves plus natural gas, major export earner whilst we flaggelate ourselves over some carbon dioxide bullshit, totally unproven to sell to China etc whilst we subsidise them for the next 20 years for so called renewable energy! Obama is treading the same path..... Is this World Domination? A new form of Communism? 

jeannie
jeannie from NSW commented:

Jeannie NSW Price rises then more pay rises and we never come out in front. My electricity bill has double so cannot use my heater, this winter is the coldest i can remember. 

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