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Thread: The illusion of choice with energy retailers

  1. #1
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    The illusion of choice with energy retailers

    Was with Energy Australia for quite a while, they seemed stable and the price per kW didn't hurt too much.
    Then I started getting letters from them saying " we overcharged you in your last bill. We will adjust for the amount in your next bill".
    Ok, meter is manually read. Next bill comes with said adjustment.
    Next bill seemed normal. Then I get another letter saying " We undercharged you in your last bill and we will adjust the amount in your next bill. Oh and your pay on time discount may be partly affected because of the underpayment"
    Hmm. I am thinking their accounting is incompetent or dodgy, it is now impossible to work out what rate I am actually paying.
    Call centre is useless, seem to have a list of standard answers.
    Time to change I am thinking...
    Red Energy " Sir we are an Australian company and when you ring us you will speak to an Australian in Australia, and our accounts are easy to read and simple" Sounds good.
    Sign up with Red, price per kW and daily charge is about the same as EA.
    All good for a couple of bill cycles.
    Then I installed grid connect solar. Price per kW immediately went up 10c.
    Why is this I ask? Cost to you to supply power is the same?
    "Oh that is what we charge to all solar customers" We can not change the rate. (take it or leave it)
    So I have another look at Vic Energy Compare. Tango seems cheap and popular. Not Australian, oh well.
    Sign up with Tango. 2 months wait (3month billing cycle with Red)
    Just before the changeover I get a phone call from someone at Red.
    " Can I ask why you are leaving?"
    Yes your rate went up when I installed solar.
    " We'd like to keep you if possible, we can offer a $50 bonus and reduce your tariff by 8c per kWh"
    me "I was told you couldn't reduce the tariff"
    "Well I can offer you a special deal to keep you with Red. So now do you still want to leave?"
    me. "Well would you have told me about the new tariff if I wasn't leaving?"
    " No, why would we do that?"
    me. "Well perhaps to offer your customers the best possible tariff?"
    Red "Well I have removed the one reason you said you were leaving, so why would you go?"
    me. "Well you have just given me another reason to leave."
    The conversation then descended into insults and the rep hung up.
    Now with Tango, we'll see how we go.
    They promised 1 month billing cycle (good, easier for me to change)
    Ended up with 3 months. "That's what Ausnet give us"
    me "Well I can download usage from your web portal with 30 minute increments, so why can't you do 1 month billing cycle"
    "We don't know how that can happen."
    I give up.
    Terry
    80 109" 2.6 P ex Army GS, saved from the scrappie.
    95 300tdi 130 Single cab tray.
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  2. #2
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    Edited, got the letters back to front
    80 109" 2.6 P ex Army GS, saved from the scrappie.
    95 300tdi 130 Single cab tray.
    2010 Guzzi 750

  3. #3
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    Similar here in the ACT - only one provider ACTEW but Origin are one of their business customers and offer competing retail deals.

    Last month advised ACTEW were replacing my meter to a smart meter - why I ask? The old meters have a class fault - odd it had been fitted for over 45 years and works fine - ok so the meter gets changed.

    Then get a second letter saying that as a result of the meter change my tariff will change, why I ask as price of electricity has not changed but no manual readings so price should go down - hmmm well no.

    So the real reason to change the meter was just so the tariff can be increased.

    I might look at changing to Origin (certainly in the short term rates are lower) but as they are just a reseller my money just ends up going to ACTEW.

    So yes - there is an "Illusion of Choice with Energy Retailers".

    Garry
    REMLR 243

    2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6
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  4. #4
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    Yes, having played the game in NSW for a few years now - Do nothing and you will end up on the highest rate, look around at providers (including the one you are with) and you can generally find a different plan than the one you have been on that is marginally cheaper. Health funds and phone providers do it as well by constantly aging out plans and then increasing the prices on the aged plans so that if you do nothing then you pay more.

    We have a farm that uses about 8KW/H a year, the opportunity to spend less on the base supply fees is extremely limited.

    Regards,
    Tote
    Go home, your igloo is on fire....
    2014 Chile Red L494 RRS Autobiography Supercharged
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  5. #5
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    I'm with Origin with solar at the moment. Origin have dropped their FIT from 21c to 12c with the same other charges. It changes the business model for the solar installation. When the contract expires and the rate drops I'll more than likely at this stage change to AGL who have a 17c FIT with the same charge rates.
    Cheers
    Slunnie


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  6. #6
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    Got to love them hey!

    I hate the bastards; competition will breed cheaper prices - pigs arse!

  7. #7
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    Isn't AGL's 17c only for the first few kw each day? I was on Origin's 21c but the agreement was soon to end. The website offered 12c and 4% discount on their standard rate. On the final day of the old agreement the web-site no longer showed any rate but asked that I ring them for new agreement. Next day I rang Origin only to find that the 4% rate discount is no longer available to me as my old agreement had expired.
    I'd like to find a FIT better than 12c but haven't found one that overall beats Origin.

    Edit: AGL's 17c FIT is indeed for all export but their use rates are higher than Origin's.
    MY12 RRV 4.4 TDV8 AB, +LLAMS, +e-diff, +ACC stop/go. Produce LLAMS for LR/RR, Jeep GC/Dodge Ram
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  8. #8
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    Having just compared Origin's current offering with AGL's current offering using my TOU hours and export kwh for each of the last 4 quarters I would have been $400 better off for the year with AGL, providing AGL doesn't charge its listed fees for various payment options if paid by EFT as I currently do with Origin. I feel a phone call to AGL occurring tomorrow.
    MY12 RRV 4.4 TDV8 AB, +LLAMS, +e-diff, +ACC stop/go. Produce LLAMS for LR/RR, Jeep GC/Dodge Ram
    VK2HFG and APRS W1 digi

  9. #9
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    The illusion of choice with energy retailers

    This is our current rates. I’m not happy with the incoming though I’m not willing to give up the outgoing!


  10. #10
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    Thanks Slunnie, I'd have missed an opportunity had you not mentioned AGL. Signed-up now so just have to wait for the change-over to occur which hopefully will only be a day or so due to having a smart meter, although the AGL help person stated that it would occur at the next meter reading/end of quarter. My meter gets read daily.
    MY12 RRV 4.4 TDV8 AB, +LLAMS, +e-diff, +ACC stop/go. Produce LLAMS for LR/RR, Jeep GC/Dodge Ram
    VK2HFG and APRS W1 digi

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