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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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Nigel
Nigel from SA commented:

The pension needs to be double for non home owners or owners who bought over 10 years ago, A partnered 70 year old male gets $740 per 2 weeks and his wife who can't work but is still 60 only gets $468.00 combined these 2 amounts are $1208 thats $604 each week. Just rent and electric take care of $535. thats $69 to cover everything else. No one can live on that in Australia. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

I would like to the energy suppliers jump on board and offer reductions in gas and electricity bills. 

Nigel
Nigel from SA commented:

on driving a doctor should not have the say over 75 should have a free 15 minute drive test. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

If the number of accidents caused by drivers over 85 is greater in percentage terms than the accidents caused by those below 85, then there may be a case for testing yearly. Not otherwise. It is just easy to attribue accidents over 85 to age, and lump all older drivers into one category and demonise them , when statistically they are far safer drivers than younger ones. However there are far more horrific accidents caused by drivers less than 85, for a multitude of reasons. So why pick on the few horrific ones caused by those older than 85? Age is the least of our worries on the road. the driving behaviour of others is far scarier. However i would not object to the requirement of a medical certificate by a GP. Why age is concsdiered worse than obesity ,for exam[ple, when Focussing on a person's age ge is consdiered to be the cause of an accidents when they can happen for a multitude of reaosn, means that ofodler persons are being dsicirimintated against. Just ofcussing on a person's agetns of younger drivers, then i agree there is 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

The last three and a half lines should have been deleted- didn't check the draft before submitting!!! 

Beverley
Beverley from NSW commented:

Very well stated Anonymous. One cannot generalise or blanket - there are too many variables. Many older drivers probably cover 1000-2000 klms a year - shopping, doctors, a movie, to the station, hairdresser etc so it is local, keeping them independent and mobile. 

Colin
Colin from QLD commented:

The need for a road driving test on drivers over any particular age is too limited by the age consideration. If the doctor certifying to your health for licence renewal purposes is honest he will advise you and the licensing authority if your wits are scrambled. If they are not then your probable fifty or sixty years of experience make you safer than the young driver with his mobile in his hand and his noise generator at full whack. My doctor tests the all important reaction time my dropping a sheet of paper through my opened hand from a few inches up and if I grab it then my reaction times are OK. Eyes, co-ordination, and reaction times are the main things that can go wrong. Your sixty years behind a wheel is enough. That and keeping up with changes to road rules - and that applies to thirty years olds as much as to us oldies. At least we were taught how to read and how to obey. A driving tester beside you in a car is not necessary , but should be available free of charge if you request it. 

Beverley
Beverley from NSW replied to Colin:

Totally agree Colin. Well said. Maybe one free "top up" assessment - (or re-assurance) - every 1-2 years IF you feel the need? but then stubbornness can creep in - many feel they know everything - dont need it - couldnt/wouldnt learn anything or change anything . . . so . . . again, many, many variables. :) 

Don
Don from NSW commented:

Electricity costs a butcher fruit sshop delecatission ; in several areas willind to gige fiftyup club members a discountt 

peter
peter from NSW commented:

Couldn't agree with Virginia more. Coles' insurance cost is very competitive but if you are with a company that has reasonable prices and great service it's worth paying a little bit more. 

Panagiotis Peter
Panagiotis Peter from NSW commented:

Have you guys seen the premiums for Life Insurance once you get over fifty? That is daylight robbery and should be investigated. We have had this insurance cover for over 15 years now and once I hit 50 the premiums went to $370 per month. Is this in line with industry standard? 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Panagiotis Peter:

Put the $370 on an ING account at 4.something% and you will quickly have accumulated enough to cover the expenses for a funeral or other... Life Insurance premiums are a rip off, it is a well known fact, so are funeral insurance, just look at the sumptuousness of the insurance companies buildings everywhere, and you will understand that the Insurance business is a very -too...- lucrative one. Like most big listed businesses, now, the shareholder is the priority, the dividends are the priority, we are , us, the clients, just a number and they want our money for as little as possible in return (goods, service, etc...), lets tell them about this crazy injustice, lets boycott such greedy businesses, or we would be really silly, wouldn't we? As far as the so-call Coles insurance, I have a problem, myself, with their customer service located in South Africa, how patriotic is that??? 

Virginia
Virginia from NSW commented:

Even though Coles Insurance was happy to write off $850 from their original quote to match my current insurer, AAMI, less the $100 discount, I will still be staying with AAMI. Its called Loyalty, and to tell you the truth I believe that in 12 months time Coles Insurance will not offer any discount anywhere near the one they offered this year.!! Sometimes its better to stay with the Devil you know then to go with the Devil you don't!! 

Lorraine
Lorraine from VIC commented:

Every person is different and driving ability should not be determined by age. Mandatory testing creates stress that can cause a normally competent driver to fail and lose a much needed licence. Many older people are extremely capable of continuing to drive well. Leave things as they are, most of us will know when its time to stop 

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