$700k worth of savings tips from the government

I would like someone to explain to me why electricity is so expensive. It is certainly not so expensive to produce. The cost has increased approx. 80-85% in the last 3 years. I just can't get my head around it. 

Seeing that click is doing such a great deal with electricity, it's now time to take on the gas companies. The competition is not so strong so the discounts are less attractive. 

The problem with selling off private assets, is long term it reduces the overall income stream back into general revenue. It also in the long term pushes up costs, usually above the normal inflation rate. Once something is privatised it becomes subject to bottom line magins and share holder demands and expectations. There other ways to improve services, they can stop the waste for startes and careless investment. The trouble is that Governments have forgotten that they do not own these assets, the people do. Same with all revenue, raised it is not theirs to fritter away, but to be used wisely for the greater good of and for the people. Governments have forgotten that they have been elected by the people and are there as PUBLIC SERVANTS on behalf of the people. It seems that in these days they have become autocratic and dictatorial, we have lost many of our democratinc rights over rescent years, post 911 and seem to more of a socialist run country. Democracy is fast becomming a lost ideal. 

brian from nsw electricity sell off , the way i see it , sydney would get another tunnel under the harbour and a couple of new rail lines , finished money spent , from then onwards the dividends that go to the govt. to pay for schools , police etc.in country areas etc, would prob. go to who ever bought it in china 

Continuing about selling assets and essential services . . .why maintain the equipment when it seems to be running ok so . . . . "just lets rake in the money for a while and sit back with our feet up"? Then it starts to fail/wear etc and rates MUST go up to replace because . . . we didnt allow for this! and have got used to our lifestyle . . . slug the consumer a little more. And of the body who once OWNED operated and maintained the asset which has now gone? There is no direction on how it could or should be run or maintained. Just less to worry about! At days end who is screwed over? The consumer - you and I. Privatisation is NOT always something which generates good things. And the more we sell? the less we have - like selling Australian land to overseas countries . . . buying fruit from overseas while digging in our own fruit trees. who remembers the orchards up Gosford way when we were children? Where are they market gardens? Another subject for another time. 

Just some comments on privatisation . . . Im not saying we have no need of progress but what is considered progress? Once we had terminology . . ."essential services" - provided by government at whatever level . . . mail, electricity, water, gas, transport to name the first which come to mind. The basics. Ever since amalgamation and/or selling off to private "enterprise!" does it not seem to anyone else the "enterprising" entrepreneurs have flourished at the expense of consumers? Why should we/why are we ALWAYS now chasing our tails for the best deals? what regulations are there on HOW the business is conducted? Yes there are regulations, BUT not so watertight they cant be tweaked with careful wording for sly profits. When did govts who RAN and MAINTAINED essential services decide others could do better? Where is the money they collected from selling the geese who laid golden eggs? e.g. Transport can open n shut services at THEIR discretion. (Why run after 10pm providing service/assistance to consumers when it will COST/cut the bottom line? We once had "County Councils" for electricity. Linesmen 24/7 for emergency services and repairs - ASSISTANCE for consumers - more JOBS there4 more people paying taxes - where has that gone? Benefit? Im old enough to remember postmen delivered twice a day and once on Saturday. Now, PO hrs vary and not every PO is even OPEN Saturday! Not everyone has computers for email or to "go-online" searching for deals. Communication . . . ONE company owns lines - others rent them. If the owner company shuts them down? we are all literally "cut off" OR fed what we are wanted to hear or see. Sure privatisation can (in some instances) create competition but at what expense in hidden areas. 

brian from nsw 

Re Australia Post. I don't know of ANY former public owned business e.g.. Telstra, Qantas, Commonwealth Bank who's charges have decreased or service improved since being flogged off by the government of the day. These businesses were owned by the public and the government was supposed to look after them, not flog them off for short term gain for themselves!They should live within their monetary constraints, just like everyone else. They love spending other peoples money on often useless things and we still end up paying for them. 

I see that the savings quoted for the electricity deal is quoted for a household of 4, there are a lot of 50 up club members now on their own due to partners deaths, what will the savings be for them ? 

John of NSW. I believe that there are basic, but essential public services set-up over time specifically for the benefit of ALL Australian inhabitants no matter their personal circumstances. These services include such facilities as ensuring adequate & clean water supplies, power/energy, transport, postal facilities. These services need to be fully maintained by applying maintenance programmes that secure their ongoing full range of services. History has shown that public services have already been sold off under the misguided influence of greedy self-interest individuals & successive governments. Their projected aim of a once-off cash benefit for a limited few needs to be compared to the long-term pain/ suffering for the remainder who are otherwise affected. This is not to say though, that these service/ facilities can’t be made to be better performing.