Electricity bill up 22%

[moXJO]

Noticed the electricity bill was higher than normal, and was discussing it with a friend. He had called the electricity company earlier and they said that charges had gone up by 22% Anyone else get slugged?
Is this in anticipation of ets, or will they knock it up even more?

 

[Julia]

No, doubt very much it's in anticipation of the ETS. That will be more again.

I don't know where you are moXJO, but in Qld we've had two rises in the last few months, probably about 20% all up.

Ain't it grand.

 

[moXJO]

Between rent (mortgage) and services there must be a lot of people very hard up at the moment.

 

[Wysiwyg]

This from Babcock and Brown Power regarding the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Emissions Trading Scheme

The Commonwealth Government’s planned introduction of an emissions trading scheme (ETS) by 2011 is likely to have a significant impact on industry pricing structures, resulting in valuation changes to BBP’s portfolio of generation assets. Price adjustment will be principally effected by requiring generators thatproduce carbon emissions to acquire emission permits. In respect of BBP this will mean higher costs for electricity generation for some of its assets. BBP generates electricity through both coal and gas firedplants. Higher wholesale prices for electricity may benefit BBP’s gas fired generators. Coal fired generators will receive a higher cost impost under the proposed ETS. It is envisaged that the ETS will provide certain transitional assistance for businesses through an initial allocation of free carbon permits, which BBP expects to receive for its coal fired generators.

 

[jono1887]

Noticed the electricity bill was higher than normal, and was discussing it with a friend. He had called the electricity company earlier and they said that charges had gone up by 22% Anyone else get slugged?
Is this in anticipation of ets, or will they knock it up even more?

You sure its not the increased heating costs over the winter?? Our electricity bills are always higher over winter...

 

[BradK]

I arrived back in Australia last August (2008) and have not received an electricity bill at all in that time.

I have been putting $20 aside per week for it, and I have some kitty together now.

I have rang all the local electricity suppliers and my account is not with them?? I reckon my connection paper work has got lost someone along the line - but they are all convinced I am not with them.

Livin' off the grid - yeeeee haaa

Brad

 

[moXJO]

You sure its not the increased heating costs over the winter?? Our electricity bills are always higher over winter...

That’s what I thought initially, but we have used less electricity than usual. Mate had the same problem and rang them up to find he was getting slugged 22% more. Might call them up to confirm, as 22% sounds like a big increase.

 

[johnnyg]

Yep, up 20% here too in Inland NSW. Glad I put a wood heater in before winter!

 

[awg]

The price of electricity was increased 20% in NSW.

The submission was made by the NSW govt, in order that the privatisation of the Electricity network, would be more palatable to any potential purchasers.

Had a long talk to a relo in the power gen industry about many matters, the privatisation is not going well, lowball offers, and not even enough offers for the process to proceed.

he was most derogatory about the economics of wind generation, will post on this later

 

[pacestick]

awg is correct in NSW it was widely publicised that it was going to rise .I am in the firtunate position of having one of the tinlids leave home over winter and yet even with declined useage it stood pretty still total in comparison to last years total for the same period

 

[Prospector]

Nice timing - Pensioners get a small increase in their pension, and public housing and utility costs zoom up. How on earth can pensioners afford this?

Our water rates are about to increase by at least this much - the last few days we have actually been releasing water from our reservoirs because they are full - normally that would be great news but it is only because they are too small and we can increase the size but that would be too boring; and Rann is full steam ahead with a de-sal plant for next year which will cost mega $$ to service. Which will become his icon. And yet the lower lakes are dried up and towns along that stretch will soon need bottled water for drinking due to salinity. We are so screwed here.

 

[drsmith]

Domestic electricity tariffs (KW/hr) are being increased substantially in WA at the moment. This though is from a low base.

The electricity utilities here are still publically owned.

 

[chode84]

aahh thats why.

I was a bit shocked at our last bill a few days ago and promptly got told by the other half "I told you not to use the heater all the time". Look forward to getting home and telling her the real reason

 

[macca]

I live in NSW and I have just received my latest electricity bill,

Comparing to last year at this time, I have used 3% less power than last year but my bill has gone from $450 for the quarter up to $800 for the quarter.

An increase of about 80% mainly due to Government policy and reduction of power generation.

Inflation caused by the Govt which then blames the RBA, how the hell can "the workers" afford this as well as increased mortgage payments

Seriously bad times ahead unless they start looking forward and not backwards

 

[greggles]

I live in NSW and I have just received my latest electricity bill,

Comparing to last year at this time, I have used 3% less power than last year but my bill has gone from $450 for the quarter up to $800 for the quarter.

Jeez that's a big increase. A $1,400 increase per year isn't something to sneeze at. Do you have solar? If not it might be worth calculating the payback time on a decent system plus battery.

 

[greggles]

Just got my email from Origin. Rate increases for south-east Queensland area are below. It's interesting that they quote the difference in cents instead of a percentage. I suppose the reason for this is because quoting a percentage increase would create more consumer anger.

Controlled Load 1 = 16.90% increase
General Usage = 24.12% increase
Daily Supply - Controlled = 22.38% increase
Daily Supply = 13.22% increase

No change in feed in tariff. So now they are buying power from consumers for as low as 2c-5c per kwh and then selling it back to them at night for 32c. Nice business model. I'm getting 12c per kwh but only for the first 14 kwh per day. If the government needs to step in here it's the exploitative monopolistic FIT prices being offered to consumers that should be the reason.

 

[sptrawler]

Just got my email from Origin. Rate increases for south-east Queensland area are below. It's interesting that they quote the difference in cents instead of a percentage. I suppose the reason for this is because quoting a percentage increase would create more consumer anger.

Controlled Load 1 = 16.90% increase
General Usage = 24.12% increase
Daily Supply - Controlled = 22.38% increase
Daily Supply = 13.22% increase

No change in feed in tariff. So now they are buying power from consumers for as low as 2c-5c per kwh and then selling it back to them at night for 32c. Nice business model. I'm getting 12c per kwh but only for the first 14 kwh per day. If the government needs to step in here it's the exploitative monopolistic FIT prices being offered to consumers that should be the reason.

View attachment 158109

The good thing is @greggles , now that Origin is owned by a "green" company and renewables are much cheaper, those prices will drop markedly in the near future.
Just ask @basilio ?
Sorry Bas, just couldn't resist, after all the years of you telling me, I'm wrong.

 

[Smurf1976]

So now they are buying power from consumers for as low as 2c-5c per kwh and then selling it back to them at night for 32c.

Network charges, environmental obligations, financial market costs and retail margin is where most of it's going. Those costs still exist regardless of the source of generation.

That said, I certainly agree costs are higher than they need to be but you can thank both sides of politics and their minor party allies, all with their flawed ideology, for that one. There's a lot of forced inefficiencies just to keep them happy.

It's not as though plenty of engineers and others haven't been warning of the looming situation for a very long time based on fundamentals and we're not done yet with all this yet. Indeed we haven't even started trying to climb out of the hole yet.

 

[farmerge]

I live in NSW and I have just received my latest electricity bill,

Comparing to last year at this time, I have used 3% less power than last year but my bill has gone from $450 for the quarter up to $800 for the quarter.

An increase of about 80% mainly due to Government policy and reduction of power generation.

Inflation caused by the Govt which then blames the RBA, how the hell can "the workers" afford this as well as increased mortgage payments

Seriously bad times ahead unless they start looking forward and not backwards

Crickey I'd be choking on the $450 bill let alone the $800 one.
Ours usually around the $250isg give or take a bit each time.
But we have solar panels , solar hot water and a wood fire.
Only impost is when the sun don't shine and night time power usage.

 

[farmerge]

Iforgot to add we also have a few generators which I have worked out are actually cheaper to run than buying in power. But I prefer the switch on the wall, unless there is a power failure.