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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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paul
paul from NSW commented:

How about free or half price fishing licenses in nsw for those people who have a seniors card 

jennine
jennine from NSW commented:

As a group there is strength and as electricity is expensive, the government should told to stop privatizing & gouging the near 1 billion $ in profit out of our utilities , these have already been paid for by us the tax payer.These are a necessity to modern life and these costs have far reaching effects on all facets our lives .By us as a group contacting our local members & telling the government they work for us & this what we want . Only then will we have realistic levels of cost of living expenses for all states and territory for now and the future. 

Harold
Harold from NSW replied to jennine:

I agree that electricity is expensive especially for a country with the coal reserves we have. Government running the industry sounds good on paper, but the problem you have is they are too tempted to pull the profit out and use it for other things rather than putting it back into the industry. Then they also fall victim to the gold plating sought by the unions. All this adds to costs. And every time there is a change in government we get a change in policy. Every incoming government promises lower electricity prices but when they get in they just can't bring themselves to giving up the money so nothing gets done. But they know there are real no consequences as we all need electricity and there is no option out there for the people. I know I have reduced my electricity usage yet my bills continue to go up and up. Rather than having the companies call us with the best deal, perhaps as a group we should say this is what we will pay for your service and if you agree you get all the business from everyone. We would then also expect you to show us where and how the profits would be invested back into the grid. Private or government owned I don't care just so I know I am getting a good price from a responsible and well run company. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Cheaper prices on everyday products with good quality and good customer service. 

michael
michael from NSW commented:

reduced living costs better purchasing powerfor both discretionary and non discretionaryitems especially overseas travel its amazing how much cheaper things are overseas 

Tony
Tony from NSW commented:

Not happy!! I have just been contacted by Coles Insurance about my car insurance. I live on a small farm in NSW. They will not insure me because I live on a rural property. Also, I have a small business in a nearby town and I use my Mitsubishi Express van (my only vehicle) for some deliveries well as my daily ride. They won't insure me because of that, either!! Not happy at all. 

Jeanette
Jeanette from QLD commented:

I would like to see discounts especially on some services, maybe some tickets to shows, insurance, etc. 

Graham
Graham from SA commented:

Not sure what I am expecting the Fifty Up club to do for the over 50's. It would be nice to be recognized as a mature Australian, but the world has gone mad with the cost of living. Yes, I would like cheaper insurances, Electricity and Gas and not to mention the cost of Water and all the things that would make life a little more enjoyable, but this isn't going to happen when governments are spending millions on things that we don't really need, and when it is spent, then it's the tax payer who has to find the cost of it even when we haven't been asked if we want it or not. Governments know the economy is in a mess, and yet they get themselves into a bigger mess. Isn't it about time they stopped spending and started to save. Oh!! and stop bickering on like spoilt children. That though will never happen. 

Graham
Graham from SA commented:

I don't know why those living in South Australia are different from the rest of this beautiful country. Having so many States in one country and being run by different local governments baffles me. On the subject of Electricity, South Australia is the highest in cost. Why should one state be dearer or cheaper ? why can't we all pay the same rate ? That's not just on Electricity but on all products. The answer to that is greed. 

Graham
Graham from SA commented:

The issue of 85 year olds having to sit another driving test every two years is a stressful ordeal. If your local GP thinks you are in good health then that should be good enough to keep driving. If you have a record of having heart attacks, blackouts and strokes, then that is a different thing, but if you are healthy enough to do things like younger people do, then it is unfair to pick on the oldies. Leave the oldies alone and let them enjoy their lives as long as they can. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

A saving on any of the basics would be greatly appreciated! 

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