Author Topic: Smart meters and time-of-use billing in Australia  (Read 3548 times)

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Online Ed.Kloonk

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Re: Smart meters and time-of-use billing in Australia
« Reply #25 on: July 10, 2021, 02:31:24 am »
I remember a time when there were ads on TV encouraging us to use all the power we want. And we did. One only person concerned with how much power was the one who received the power bill. And short of that, nobody cared how much power you used or when.

This daily supply charge bullshit needs to go.
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Offline themadhippy

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Re: Smart meters and time-of-use billing in Australia
« Reply #26 on: July 10, 2021, 02:43:28 am »
Quote
From my own experience, Energy Australia are a pack of morons
Dont worry,they're  the same in the uk,with the added bonus of also being lying barstewards .One told me a certain type of energy plan was illegal due to government changes,but then couldn't point me to the legislation   as it didn't exist and another told me the fitting of a smart meter was compulsory when i refused to let the meter fitter change my meter who just turned up unannounced. .I'm avoiding smart meters for as long as possible as once everyone's switched over watch the buggers start charging for the actual power there having to deliver due to  the lousy power factor of  all those led lamps were being forced to fit.
 

Online HalcyonTopic starter

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Re: Smart meters and time-of-use billing in Australia
« Reply #27 on: July 10, 2021, 03:15:13 am »
This daily supply charge bullshit needs to go.

100% agree, or at least, make it a set cost across all energy retailers.

For years the government have tried to make it "easy" to compare energy plans across several retailers. It's anything but easy. I'm pretty good with spreadsheets and even I find comparing prices time consuming. On one hand it might seem like you're getting a good rate, until you factor in the daily supply charge and all the other little add-ons like "summer and non-summer demand" charges and at what time of day you actually use the most electricity.
 

Online Ed.Kloonk

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Re: Smart meters and time-of-use billing in Australia
« Reply #28 on: July 10, 2021, 04:38:01 am »
This daily supply charge bullshit needs to go.

100% agree, or at least, make it a set cost across all energy retailers.

For years the government have tried to make it "easy" to compare energy plans across several retailers. It's anything but easy. I'm pretty good with spreadsheets and even I find comparing prices time consuming. On one hand it might seem like you're getting a good rate, until you factor in the daily supply charge and all the other little add-ons like "summer and non-summer demand" charges and at what time of day you actually use the most electricity.

Yeah. It's subterfuge intended to wear down the patience of the consumer. I wonder if the long game is to do what the telcos did here and set up a planned usage amount for a set fee. But you're right, it's very hard to pin down a pp-kWh from them, especially the mobs that nobody has ever heard of cold-call and then promise the earth.

I had one chap with heavy accent call from within a noisy room so hard to understand but wouldn't tell me the rate until I told him my existing rates.  ::)  He kept ringing and eventually became abusive so I had to block him. If that's what their sales dept is like, imagine trying to ring for support. The joke of it is I was initially interested.
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Online HalcyonTopic starter

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Re: Smart meters and time-of-use billing in Australia
« Reply #29 on: July 10, 2021, 06:18:58 am »
This daily supply charge bullshit needs to go.

100% agree, or at least, make it a set cost across all energy retailers.

For years the government have tried to make it "easy" to compare energy plans across several retailers. It's anything but easy. I'm pretty good with spreadsheets and even I find comparing prices time consuming. On one hand it might seem like you're getting a good rate, until you factor in the daily supply charge and all the other little add-ons like "summer and non-summer demand" charges and at what time of day you actually use the most electricity.

Yeah. It's subterfuge intended to wear down the patience of the consumer.

It'll go the same way as the insurance, telco and finance industries -- Those who don't shop around for better deals or even ask their reseller for their best price will end up paying more. While those who spend a few hours each year doing some homework end up making some significant savings. For example, I made a phone call about 6 months ago to my mortgage financier, just asking "is there something better you can do?" and straight away they came back with a better offer, all it cost me was a little bit of time.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2021, 06:20:42 am by Halcyon »
 

Online Ed.Kloonk

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Re: Smart meters and time-of-use billing in Australia
« Reply #30 on: July 10, 2021, 07:22:28 am »
For example, I made a phone call about 6 months ago to my mortgage financier, just asking "is there something better you can do?" and straight away they came back with a better offer, all it cost me was a little bit of time.

Some organizations are begging to hear from existing customers. 12 months ago, Foxtel openly requested account holders to call and negotiate in response to the no-doubt changes to the TV viewing habits vs changing financial situations. Some viewers should have easily got more TV for the same money. But it avoided a facebook backlash swarm of customers canceling their accounts.

Some time ago I contacted my power company after I thought it was costing too much. This was well after Mal's energy price crusade. I had been too busy with work. But when I rang up and explained myself, the guy back-dated the new rate quite a few months.
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