Electrical Bill More than Doubled (Australia)

1. 73

   WryLiltposted 14 years ago

   Just looking for feedback from Australians in particular but also from anyone else who wants to throw in their two cents worth!
   
   I smiled happily when I got my latest quarterly power bill - I set up direct debit not long ago so assumed would only be about $100 or so.
   
   However I opened it to find it was over $900.
   
   Yes, it is winter here. However I think our worst ever power bill wasn't too far over $450. They generally average $300-425.
   
   I know there's been an increase in power charges since 1st July (this bill covers 1st June to 3 Sept) however I don't see how it could have more than doubled.
   
   The only thing that I can think of is that we got a new hotwater system installed by the rental agency after ours busted in a cold spell.
   
   Anyone else been shocked by their latest power bill???

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   1. 87

      agvulpesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      We have been advised that in Victoria Electricity charges have gone up on average about 20% per Kw. With another 30% on the way shortly. If you can have a look at Red Energy rates they have a discount for paying on time!
      We will soon have a carbon tax added to this bill now that Labor has got in to 'Govern' Sorry to dampen your day.

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   2. 48

      amandadelaforceposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Rising power bills prompts 20,000 NSW residents to give up their beer fridges
      
      Rapidly rising power bills are causing residents to rethink the need for the old beer fridge.  Old fridges are big energy users, consuming up to three times the energy of new fridges.  On average, a second fridge adds $210 per year to power bills. 
      
      The award winning Fridge Buyback programis supported by the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund as part of its Home Saver Rebatesit provides a rebate for residents to get rid of their old energy-guzzling second fridges (conditions apply)
      
      The program is supported locally by council and has recently reached 20,000 collections
      
      “Higher power prices kicked in from 1 July.  We are hearing from a lot of residents who are really stunned at their latest power bills and are looking for ways to cut theirelectricity use.” said David Roach, Program Manager of Fridge Buyback.
      
      Fridge Buyback, the only service of its kind in Australia, offers residents a $35 rebate and free removal by professional removalists (conditions apply). It has recently been awarded the Best Eco-Friendly Product in the 2010 Australian Business Awards
      
      In addition to saving residents money on their power bills, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by an average 1 tonne CO2 per year, refrigerant gases are properly removed and the metals in the fridge are recycled.
      
      Fridge Buyback is an energy efficiency program that is highly valued by the community and involves 45 NSW local councils.
      
      To date, Fridge Buyback has:
      •    Collected 20,000 fridges
      •    Saved residents more than $4.2 million dollars per year on their power bills
      •    Will avoid more than an 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the next few years
      •    Recycled more than 1,800 tonnes of steel and copper in the fridges
      •    Recovered and safely destroyed more than 1600 kg of CFC refrigerants
      
      Fridge Buyback is targeting the big old energy-guzzling fridges in people’s garages, laundries and workshops. 
      
      To participate in the program, fridges must be working second fridges that have been in regular use, are 250 litres or more in size and at least 10 years old.
      
      For more information about Fridge Buyback please contact 1800 708 401 or visit the Fridge Buyback website at www.fridgebuyback.com.au .  A short video about the program is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuIMqjbdR40

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2. 79

   Polly Cposted 14 years ago

   Hi Wrylilt, that does sound like a huge increase! Surely shouldn't have doubled. I'm in the UK, but had a problem with direct debit once. Are you paying a set amount each month, as that is what we did except that the amount wasn't enough to cover the bill and the energy company either didn't notice or didn't tell us. It was their fault but we ended up with a huge bill.

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3. 83

   elayne001posted 14 years ago

   Our rate for watts has increased recently and for a very small condo we are paying around $300. This is in Hawaii where we use a/c usually only when it is very hot - now that it is summer, it has been pretty warm and I sleep better with the a/c, but this is the highest bill we have had in this home. Our last place had five bedrooms and the bill got up to around $500 in the summer. I hope  yours is wrong, but giving the economy, it could be right. Hurts!

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4. 63

   Kidgasposted 14 years ago

   Wow.  That is incredible.  I would never expect to see an electric bill double like that.  I have seen a slow and steady increase here in the US.  I think it is probably due to an increase in usage but I would have to check back to compare.  Hope it is a mistake.

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5. 72

   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   I'm in Melbourne Australia and with a big house full of kids. Central heating is gas, mostly the rest is electric except the stove. The washing machine and dryer run 7 days a week with this many little ones, and our bill is half that.
   I would be doing some checking.

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6. 73

   WryLiltposted 14 years ago

   Yes I plan to ring up tomorrow.
   
   Although after talking to some people it seems I'm not the only one to get a surprise.
   
   Earnest have you gotten an electricity bill since July?

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7. 61

   A la carteposted 14 years ago

   I would challenge that bill..My last one was about $600 and that is for a  house with a pool.The pool I know costs a fair bit so depending on the size of your house I would say that your reading is way off.

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8. 73

   WryLiltposted 14 years ago

   Thanks. I will ring up tomorrow and see what I can find out.

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