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News$700k worth of savings tips from the government
$700k worth of savings tips from the government

$700k worth of savings tips from the government

Tags: Energy Information
Last updated by Someone on

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you would have noticed all the talk about energy prices. If you have been off the grid (pun intended), there’s no hiding from your energy bill, which will find you eventually. 

And so will the Federal Government’s latest $700,000 ad campaign!

Launched this month, the Powering Forward Campaign reportedly cost tax-payers $300,000 for 60 seconds of airtime during the AFL & NRL Grand Finals, and as much as $700,000 in fees to a Melbourne ad agency.

There's some useful information buried in there, but it's hidden behind propaganda pushing the government's energy policy credentials.

What do you think of the campaign?

Our take? The website contains some useful info for people wanting to save on power bills, for example it links to the Energy Made Easy comparison site and the Victorian Switchon site to compare offers.

It also contains energy efficiency tips for households, which can be handy.

But all that useful stuff is buried behind the silly “powering forward” slogan and some bumph about the Government’s Snowy Hydro 2.0 and gas reservation policies.

They’re important, but we’d like to see the moneysaving info up front and centre!

Here’s something else you can do to save.

A couple of months back, the Fiftyup Club started our Power-Up Campaign,  which now boasts a staggering 50,000 registrations nationally That tells us that you do want to do something about energy prices even if it’s just to send a message to power companies that enough is enough.

While Australia may rank second in the world for quality-of-life, we rate first in the world for the highest energy prices. Data from the Carbon + Energy Markets' MarkIntell service says we’re ahead of Germany, Denmark and Italy with 4 Australian states in the top ten (click here to see the list).

This despite Australia having every energy resource available in the world including coal, wind, solar, nuclear and sea-water hydro power.

What can you do? It’s as easy as picking up the phone, calling your energy retailer and asking for a better deal. Don’t take no for an answer. The energy market has never been so competitive and you can get results, with many members reporting savings in the hundreds of dollars.

Click here to see the latest Fiftyup Club energy offers, extended for a limited time only


 

 

Originally posted on .

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Fiona
Fiona from NSW commented:

I am just sincerely thankful to receive any discounts that will simply make the change. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

it would be great to get discounted electricity and gas, maybe petrol. A card would be easier and would be easily accessible. Thank you 

caroline
caroline from NSW commented:

I am about to renew with Bingle - they are $ 30 cheaper . Coles adds %10 if you want full no claims bonus - don't understand that and other extra add ons. I did not look at excess with Coles - don't think it was mentioned. With Bingle excess is $600 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

I would like discounts from some of these big stores where we tend to spend a big chunk of our earnings. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

I hope to get better deals on insurances, holidays, etc. 

Walter
Walter from NSW commented:

A better understanding by all types of service providers and retailers that the over 50's have a substantial buying power and should be treated as such in the cost of things we buy by the way of better discounts.. 

David
David from QLD commented:

Reduced electricity costs. Reduced car & home insurance costs. 

Murray
Murray from QLD commented:

Higher discounts for non claim policy holders 

Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

Better value for money 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

OMGosh, I just got a quote to insure my car with Coles and it was half the price of NRMA, and that is Comprehensive insurance , wit same excess and all. So am hoping for more discounts like this, as I am a single woman, renting, juat found a job and really counting pennies. his is great. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

You're lucky! I didn't get any discount. They quoted me $400 more than what I'm paying with NRMA. Several others on this site say the same thing. 

Barbara
Barbara from NSW commented:

Well I don't understand that, I have a 2005 Hyundai Elantra, and NRMA wanted $800+ for the year, Coles is $403 and got an extra discount for fly bys. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Barbara:

I'm the reverse. I have a 2002 Echo and even with the extra discount for fly bys, Coles quoted me around $850 and I'm paying $420 with NRMA. In January my premium will go down even further with NRMA. 

Barbara
Barbara from NSW commented:

$420 a year for car insurance, impossible. How old are you? Even my daughters pay more than that. NRMA car insurance is always higher than most. My contents insurance is only like $290 but car insurance hhmm. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Barbara:

Believe me it's possible. I'm seventy two and have been with NRMA for forty-seven years. I have a 65% no claims bonus and have other policies covered by them. I have never made a claim. 

Barbara
Barbara from NSW commented:

Well I rang Coles today to clarify my quote, and yup is $441 instead of $803 with NRMA. I tried Real Insurance too but they were not much cheaper than nrma. I had been a member of nrma for 35 years, with 65% no claim bonus too and Coles are giving me all that. I left nrma for 2 years when I went to USA, when I came back last year, and wanted my insurance with them, they started me from scratch again, was not at all impressed considering I had been with them so long, with multiple policies. Am also going to get one more quote from youi , and compare. I just dont understand why yours would be more, did you fill in the whole form? As there is more after you fill in basics about car. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Barbara:

Barbara, I'm not stupid, I do know how to fill in a form. You have a real bee in your bonnet and I want you to stop giving me the third degree. Just leave me alone and get a life. 

Barbara
Barbara from NSW commented:

Gee, you don't have to be so rude old lady, I am only relaying what the operator told me on the phone. Bee in my bonnet , wow, you seem to be the one who is upset. Please do not reply any more, you rude old lady, or I will complain about you. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Barbara:

From an old lady, who's really an old man. "Happy Christmas" 

Les
Les from NSW commented:

Try Real Insurance on line and you may be surprised, its easy to do and you can almost dictate what you want to pay 

Barbara
Barbara from NSW replied to Les:

Ypu seem very sceptical Les, I read your comments earlier. These things wil happen in time, I agree one big switch does not help me, but am sure more companies will come on board, early days yet. 

Barbara
Barbara from NSW replied to Barbara:

They were'nt much cheaper Les, and I had to add on windscreen and hire car, put it up more. 

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