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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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Andrew
Andrew from NSW commented:

I'm with Origin energy for Electricity & Gas and am getting 17% for Electricity & 26% for Gas so there is no way I will be switching. 

Richard
Richard from NSW replied to Andrew:

i was on the same plan - but it is only valid for 1 year - and then maximum discount is 10% so watch your end of contract date!!! 

Dianne
Dianne from NSW replied to Andrew:

so when is your contract up 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Andrew:

Me too but when I went to renew Origin they could now only offer me 10% so Click sounds a lot better at 17% (unless I am missing something?) 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Hi, just looked at the electricity offer and notice that the cost is identical to Dodo Power and Gas. So in reality, there is no advantage to this offer at all. Except that MCN & the Fifty Up Club get a commission for introducing another customer. Please excuse my cynicism but this looks like just another scam that offers nothing. 

Perrine - FiftyUp Club
Perrine - FiftyUp Club from VIC commented:

Hi there, the electricity rates maybe the same for both suppliers. However, it is the discount that you receive on those rates that varies between the two suppliers. Hope that helps! 

alan
alan from NSW commented:

Yet to be offered anything that's a saving to me the insurance was dearer and the follow-up calls from India a pain in the A$$ I live in a relocatable home park so I have to purchase my electricity from the owner, When will some Valid offers become available NOT the old chestnut IN THE PIPELINE, Internet, phone, Tyres, computer repair service, Seniors club cards that's valid even if you work a full time job sans the restrictions, whats the difference with a retired 63 year old and a working 63 year old except the worker pays taxes or as they say ***They are the Living Dead & The Working Poor *** in all the handouts to everyone over the last 10 years the over 50's get or got bugger all. Nada and we raised our kids with out government help like today . 

Perrine - FiftyUp Club
Perrine - FiftyUp Club from VIC replied to alan:

Hi Alan, thank you for your feedback. The team is looking into different areas based on the recommendations made by our members so hopefully a discount will be made available that you can take advantage of in the future! 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

I went to Click Energy website. Their online quote was $160 more than what I am currently paying. I won't be switching. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

They seem to be offering 17% discount (through FiftyUp) but my current plan is about to renew at 9% discount so they seem better but I haven't read the fine print yet. 

Ron
Ron from NSW commented:

A different slant on electricity. With the huge differentials between off peak, shoulder and peak, how do we know the supply companies are playing the game properly? Who checks that the time transitions are rigorously applied? Even moderate fudging would have significant benefits to the supplier. Did Christmas Day really have no "peak" billing? What about Boxing Day? Ron NSW 

Noella
Noella from NSW commented:

Health Insurance deals would be great. Also discounts for retirees for rego, water, council rates etc for self funded retires. We aren't taking a govt. pension, interest rates are low but there is no relief. 

Perrine - FiftyUp Club
Perrine - FiftyUp Club from VIC replied to Noella:

Hi Noella, thank you for all the great recommendations. Hopefully, we will be able to unlock discounts in the future that will allow you to save! 

Judy
Judy from NSW commented:

Health insurance deals would be great, we are already paying $300 a month (big slug for retirees) and they are going to put it up again. Then on top of what you are paying for your health insurance, you have to pay the docs etc extra amounts. For example a recent hip replacement was $5000 extra. 

Jacqueline
Jacqueline from NSW commented:

Deals on health insurance would be good too - currently paying $270 for hospital only cover - and it will go up in the new year. Very hard to find on a pension. 

Jacqueline
Jacqueline from NSW commented:

are there any deals on contents insurance as yet? 

Perrine - FiftyUp Club
Perrine - FiftyUp Club from VIC replied to Jacqueline:

Hi Jacqueline, we do not have a home and contents offer currently available. However, the team is looking into this area and hopefully we will unlock a discount in the future! 

David
David from NSW commented:

Hi All Now that Privatehealth insures are increasing their rates (and well above inflation), how about a concerted effort to squeeze(and it will need to be a squeeze,I think) a decent deal for this insurance. I can see a bleak future for those of us who remain in private health insurance as more and more people withdraw to save such exhorbitant costs with the consequence that premiums will continue to escalate (and pretty rapidly too). The less people insured the higher the cost to insure. Frankly , I think it will be those over 50 who will bear the brunt here 

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