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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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Beryl
Beryl from NSW commented:

Able to have discounts and perhaps find jobs 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

I hope I will be informed about how to save money. 

Patricia
Patricia from NSW commented:

Discounts on motor registration, driving licences, land rates are not available to independent retires. Living as an independent retiree takes determination. Costs rise but investments do not. Anyone who has a job at 70 is fortunate. As one gets older, more is demanded and the worker can be treated with a lack of respect, often from persons in control . It is therefore necessary to look and dress professionally and to put in a lot of hours. Discounts on energy, land rates, motor registration and insurance would assist. As an independent retiree no reductions on car registration, driving licences etc land rates are available. I was not left money, I worked hard and learned to invest. I did not get superannuation. 

Brenda
Brenda from NSW commented:

Why is it that Insurance companies increase premiums and some don't insure people over the age of 69. I travel overseas every year and this year I reached the young age of "70" the previous insurance company I insured with now will not insure me. This is total lunacy. Not impressed. To me this is age discrimination....... 

Kevin
Kevin from NSW commented:

Sorry for the typo....should be seen not seens.....I am over Fifty :-) 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Having lived in the USA for over 20 years and in a very cold climate in winter and a very hot one in summer, I cannot recall one single electricity bill that was more than $60 a month and certainly I was unaware of any cost charged to bring the electricity to the powerboard. Further, my water bill was only $30 a month throughout the winter months and $40 a month in summer (because I had inground irrigation system for the lawn). If the American utility (electricity, gas, water) companies can be reasonable in their charges then why can't the Australian companies ? !!. I can't imagine that the cost of repairs and maintenance to electricity lines and water supply pipes would be any less expensive in the US than it is here. These energy companies in Australia are downright greedy and so are the CEOs. They had better be paying their full amount of taxes ! My gut feeling is, NOT. PS: I was born in Australia and lived here until age 40. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Do you think that governments consisting of the wealthy that listen to and support big business only going any where near the common people for approximately two weeks every three years contributes to these high prices? The fact that we Australians are apathetic with short attention spans meaning it is known we will make a little noise for short period then lose interest and put up with, put up with, and put up with. I do realise that wages in some sectors are lower in America however that would not account for the size of the difference . 

Kevin
Kevin from NSW commented:

Congratulations to Lachlan Harris and the Leadership Team for creating this opportunity for the Over Fifties. Lachlan, having seens you on TV many times, you are a very inspiring person, and have always struck me as being a REALITY person and a catalyst for thought provoking conversation. Thank you for your leadership and charisma. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

how is the Club going to be able to achieve individual utility discounts. Will we have a membership card or what ? 

Kevin
Kevin from NSW commented:

The FiftyUp Club, due to its increasing numbers hopefully will have more bargaining power with our Telephone/Mobile and Internet Companies, as well as Gas and Electricity Providers....these are the big drain on the Pension that concern me. Kevin Walsh - Stanhope Gardens NSW 

James
James from NSW commented:

Great idea 2GB however will not be providing details of "concessions", type of bank accounts etc. We receive around 4-5 phone calls a week offering "cheaper electricity", "cheaper loans", "health fund membership". and so on. If any calls of this type are received that I can identify as coming from my membership details I will be deleting my membership. Happy to get any mailings but NO TELEPHONE CALLS. 

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