News

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 .

Join the conversation

FiftyUp Club
Fiftyup Club

Join the Conversation with other members below on the FiftyUp Club Forum. Join an existing conversation, or start your own. 

Conversation is closed.
Read our moderation policy here.
John
John from NSW commented:

PENSIONERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TAX 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to John:

John: Totally agree with you. To ensure this is changed and apart from joining this club I also joined The Seniors Party(www.seniorsparty.org) that is looking at getting representation in Canberra to change this and other adverse pensioners policies. 

maureen
maureen from NSW commented:

Better deals for older Australians. 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to maureen:

Maureen: we will achieve this by 2 ways: 1.- by joining this club; and 2.- by joining The Seniors Party (www.seniorsparty.org). I did for I sincerely believe if one has this club in one hand and this Party on the other hand makes up a strong force. In both cases what it will speak at the end are numbers. 

Joe
Joe from NSW commented:

better value for dollar, improved services , more knowledgeable product and service providers that speak plain english 

Graham
Graham from NSW commented:

I ahve friends that work and can get SWish cards that can be used at Woollies and Dan Murphy'sat a 5% discount, that would be a great benefit to source 

gary
gary from NSW commented:

I am bloody sick of using less and paying more .the less you use the more they put the price up ,without any explanation 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to gary:

Gary: My sentiments exactly. We are treated like second class citizens. This is why I joined this club - sheer numbers power will speak. I went a bit further though: I also joined The Seniors Party (www.seniorsparty.org). My logic is to have the club on one hand and the Party on the other one who incidentally are looking to have representation in Canberra to assist us! 

Daryl
Daryl from NSW replied to Henry:

They don't care ,call me a syndic it's ok . They owe us nothing least of all respect .They are recruiting them younger all the time with bugger all life skills if they could sell there own parents they would it's all about how thy can make as much money in the shortest possible time ,we have nothing to give them . regards Daryl. 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to Daryl:

Daryl: Boy, do I agree with every word you said. What The Seniors Party (www.seniors.aprty.org) has given me is hope and this something personally I cannot live without. Join the party Daryl, you will soon afterwards regain some hope we will once again be treated like we should. Give it a go, DON'T GIVE UP, please. 

lesa
lesa from NSW commented:

reduced living costs so I can start to save again 

veronica
veronica from NSW commented:

I would like to see a bigger discount on electricity for pensioners the water rates give a much higher discount than the energy companies. 

Richard
Richard from NSW commented:

Reduced cost of living 

Paul
Paul from NSW commented:

As a Group with some 'clout' , we may be able bring some sanity and stability to the ever spiralling utility & consumer costs. 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to Paul:

Paul: Spot on! I joined this club for the same reasons as you, but I went a bit further: I also joined The Seniors Party(www.seniorsparty.org) who is looking to have representation in Canberra, something we badly need, wouldn't you say so? 

Paul
Paul from NSW replied to Henry:

Yes i agree there should be discounts across the board"!!!!! 

Paul
Paul from NSW replied to Henry:

At least the Fiftyups don't discriminate. The seniors card is not available until you either work for less than 20hrs per week or cease working and are fifty or more. I do not know of much advantage in this card. There seems to be a greater potential for Fiftyups. I cannot afford to retire......yet! So I am still a loyal supporter of the Taxation Dept. If there is going to be a push for a better deal, there is need to involve some politicians with there heads below the clouds and the cotton wool out of their ears...... ! 

Glen
Glen from VIC commented:

I'm disgusted at the delivery charges for online shopping at Coles and Woolworth supermarkets. To get free delivery one has to spend $300 or more in one go, and if one spends less than $100 the charge is $13. I doubt that there are many senior who can afford to spend $300 in one go. I emailed the 'feedback' section of Woolworth asking how they expected older people living on the Government aged pension to be able to pay these charges; the reply I got was " sorry you can't take advantage of this service". What more can I say? 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to Glen:

Glen: I contacted Coles through Facebook complaining the price per kilo of tomatoes they had on their Seven Hills (NSW) shop: $8.98, could you believe? They brought the price down. This is why I joined this club, the amount of people that are already here is serious enough to get said discounts. I also joined The Seniors Party (www.seniorsparty.org) that is looking to get representation in Canberra to assist us over 50's with our plight. It's about time we get a party for us! 

Glen
Glen from VIC replied to Henry:

Henry, am looking into your comments re Seniors Party. 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to Glen:

Glen: Wise move! 

Comment Guidelines