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NewsQUEENSLAND – THE CAPITAL OF ENERGY BILL DISCONTENT FOR OVER-50s
QUEENSLAND – THE CAPITAL OF ENERGY BILL DISCONTENT FOR OVER-50s

QUEENSLAND – THE CAPITAL OF ENERGY BILL DISCONTENT FOR OVER-50s

Queensland is represented in 10 out of the top 10 registration postcodes for the ‘Fair Go for FiftyUps’ campaign; a campaign to unleash the huge buying power of over-50s.

Since launching the campaign nearly 2 weeks ago, the FiftyUp Club has seen a huge wave of support with nearly 8,000 over-50s joining, of which 43% are from the sunshine state.

The top postcodes for registration were 4551 (Caloundra), 4211 (Pacific Pines) and 4216 (Coombabah). The highest postcode outside of QLD was 2250 (Gosford) and came in at #23. (See table)

FiftyUp Club aims to reach a total membership of 250,000 in a bid to boost retail competition and use the group’s buying power to get discounts on Energy, Telco & Insurance.

So many registered in QLD comes as little surprise considering findings yesterday by the Energy Consumers Australia that QLD has a 34% satisfaction rating of energy competition.

The FityUp Club surveyed registrants and found energy bills to be far and away of most concern to QLD with more than half of registrants stating so. The most concerning bills are;

  1. Energy (55%) was number one, shortly followed by

  2. Home Insurance (17%), and

  3. Car insurance (10%)

Energy competition is limited in QLD. If the campaign succeeds, the FiftyUp Club aim to inject some increased competition by introducing new offers to those who can switch.

FiftyUp Club campaign Director; Christopher Zinn today commented on the findings;

“Energy competition in Queensland certainly needs a shake up. The fact FiftyUps are more loyal to their providers does not mean they should be taken advantage of.

“The Fair Go for Fiftyups campaign hopes to address this and give this key group more cost savings and control over their energy bills.

"If we can reach 250,000 members nationally, that should give us the power to unlock brand new offers on energy, of which our members can use to switch, shop around or demand a better offer from their own provider.”

Christopher Zinn and David Liston will be in Caloundra on Friday 17th of March and will be available for interviews between 7am and 9am from the Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Lifesaving Club along with local members of the FiftyUp Club. 

Joining the FiftyUp Club is entirely cost and obligation free. Anyone can join at www.FiftyUpClub.com.au and the Fair Go for FiftyUps campaign before the 6th of March.

Originally posted on .

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QUEENSLAND – THE CAPITAL OF ENERGY BILL DISCONTENT FOR OVER-50s

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Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

Cheapest electricity provider post code 4505 

Brian
Brian from QLD commented:

Just got energy bill for 3 months for 2 person house hold nearly $1100 with discount's I know who I will be voting for at next election it wont be either of the big parties, as they talk big a then do nothing but line their onw pockets, 

Ian
Ian from QLD commented:

Wholeheartedly agree that the Qld govt-run energy monopoly is both a farce and placing many Qld households under increasing financial stress. Especially farcical given that the revenue generated in Qld goes in part into the Qld Govt coffers supposedly to help Queenslanders - bit like saying "Give me $100 so that I can help you by giving you $10"?? The Qld energy producers (and probably other states) pay absurdly low prices for domestic-generated solar power (using infrastructure that we pay for .. in part) and then have the audacity to charge that same energy out to consumers with massive mark-up. All the time saying its because of the cost of maintaining their electricity infrastructure (I would suggest that poor management is more likely the cause of the inflated costs!). As Australia's Chief Scientist recently pointed out, this infrastructure should be gold-plated given how much we pay for it! He is also right in saying that domestic-generated solar energy is the 'way forward' ..... so where are the govt incentives to help move us down that path? And since when have governments been allowed to run fully commercial businesses anyway? I haven't read the Qld Govt constitution in detail but I suspect there is nothing in it that permits our state govt to run full, profit-making "businesses" (which is different to cost-recovery). Any Constitutional Lawyers out there willing to comment? "Not happy Jan" - go for it FiftyUp!! 

Laura
Laura from QLD commented:

Electricity bill is the biggest expense. I do not like the heat so i use the AC a fair bit. Any discount on energy bill would be a help. 

Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

sounds good 

Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

Just saw the segment on the newslast night. I have now joined. Last power bill was over $500 for just the two of us. Yes we did use the aircon a bit this summer but have been conscious of the cost so we have used it sparingly. This situation is outrageuous and needs attention. The more competition the better. 

Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

Im well over 60 and tired of working out which enery company to go with. Help .. which is the cheapest? Post code 4115 qld 

James
James from QLD commented:

I have just finally had my solar connection confirmed by Ergon after 10 MONTHS!!!! I moved to Clifton 24 February, 2016 and the power bill I received a few weeks ago confirmed that I am getting something credited at last. 3 official complaints to Ergon, plus 1 complaint to the Ombudsman got me absolutely nowhere. The person who was handling my complaint at Ergon refuses to answer any communication now. The sooner Ergon has competition out this way the better!!! I was with Click Energy at Upper Lockyer and they were great!! Unfortunately Ergon is the only supplier for my area. 

Wayne
Wayne from QLD commented:

I think the common theme is that we are being ripped off by the Qld government with our power bills. The service fees and meter charges are just an illegal tax to feed their incompetency. I saw the article on 7 news tonight and think it is a bit misleading as I don't believe there are any other power suppliers we can access in Mackay. I hope I am wrong. 

Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

We have just received our bill from Ergon (today) why are we slugged with so many "service charges? No explanation of what they are for. - we have solar panels but we only get 7c back from the grid but they slug us charges for much more than we are getting back without explanation!!! What can we do? 

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