23 April 2013

Electricity prices to stay low low low says Simon

| johnboy
Join the conversation
17

Simon Corbell has the happy news that the ACT is to enjoy relatively low electricity prices into the future:

The ACT is forecast to continue to have the lowest household electricity prices in Australia through to at least 2015, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell, said today.

“This is great news for the residents of Canberra and highlights the ACT Government’s continuing commitment to reducing cost of living pressures for the community, including the Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme,” Mr Corbell said.

“According to a report released by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), ACT household electricity prices are currently the lowest in Australia and in 2015 will still be two-thirds of the average national price as well as the average electricity price paid in New South Wales,” Mr Corbell said.

Lower demand for electricity in wholesale markets has contributed to a reduction in cost pressures, resulting from a range of factors including improved energy efficiency, increased contributions of rooftop solar and structural changes in industry away from energy-intensive manufacturing.

“Modelling undertaken for the ACT’s climate change policy show that a 90% renewable energy target can be achieved in 2020 with the ACT maintaining the lowest electricity prices,” Mr Corbell said.

Join the conversation

17
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Diggety said :

Dilandach said :

Diggety said :

Dilandach said :

Diggety said :

$1200 – $1500???

Time to disconnect the Large Hadron Collider there Dilandach.

I wish, at least something useful would be coming out of it. You read that ACTEW? Perhaps I should ring up one of the tabloid shows, I’m sure they’d love to see the 5 years worth of $1500 quarters.

So, you’d be using around 80kWh/day average right? I’d highly recommend getting an energy audit done on your new digs… Your electricity usage is an order of magnitude higher than most!

Any dodgy neighbours with glowing sheds?

I’ve looked for wires or anything that would indicate someone tapping in. I suspect that the previous occupants were growers and ACTEW have just been doing guesstimates ever since based on ‘past usage’ which is the line that is always trotted out on me.

You can do a preliminary test for free (takes about 1/2 hour):

1. Get Mrs Dilandach to standby the meter and record the speed.
2. Turn off every device in your house at the wall. Repeat 1.
3. One by one, turn on every device separately starting with the major appliances (hot water, heating, oven, etc). Repeat 1.

If nothing stands out, get an energy auditor. It may even pay itself off in a month or two.

I’m at the point of not caring now, I’ll be moving out in a month or two. I just hope that the next tenants are the tenants from hell and smash all the walls, windows, threaten violence and generally make the landlord’s life hell. Not that its his fault that the electricity is high (it probably is because he does all his repairs himself then charges back to the realestate agent… no he’s not an electrician but it doesn’t seem to stop him) but he’s caused other problems including showing up with no notice and the last visit was him abusing me infront of the mrs and small kids because I didn’t answer my phone when he called (I was at the library and not taking calls and he left no return number or message) but I had no idea it was him.

Dilandach said :

Diggety said :

Dilandach said :

Diggety said :

$1200 – $1500???

Time to disconnect the Large Hadron Collider there Dilandach.

I wish, at least something useful would be coming out of it. You read that ACTEW? Perhaps I should ring up one of the tabloid shows, I’m sure they’d love to see the 5 years worth of $1500 quarters.

So, you’d be using around 80kWh/day average right? I’d highly recommend getting an energy audit done on your new digs… Your electricity usage is an order of magnitude higher than most!

Any dodgy neighbours with glowing sheds?

I’ve looked for wires or anything that would indicate someone tapping in. I suspect that the previous occupants were growers and ACTEW have just been doing guesstimates ever since based on ‘past usage’ which is the line that is always trotted out on me.

You can do a preliminary test for free (takes about 1/2 hour):

1. Get Mrs Dilandach to standby the meter and record the speed.
2. Turn off every device in your house at the wall. Repeat 1.
3. One by one, turn on every device separately starting with the major appliances (hot water, heating, oven, etc). Repeat 1.

If nothing stands out, get an energy auditor. It may even pay itself off in a month or two.

What about price increses for that other stuff they sell (gas)?

p996911turbo12:05 pm 23 Apr 13

Dilandach said :

I have a fridge, a TV, freezer a computer and lights. A dryer we use when its raining, electric oven and electric water heater. The ducted heating had the fuse taken out of it in an effort to find the offending item. I don’t have a pool, I don’t have anything that would be large usage.

Unless I’m running everything turned on 24 hours a day 7 days a week, I can’t be using the electricity I’m charged for. It falls on deaf ears, I’ve complained and nothing has been done.

In that case it’s worth reading your meter to make sure you’re being billed for the correct readings. Actew sometimes “estimate” your bill if they weren’t able to do a reading for whatever reason.

If the readings line up with what your bills say, though, you’re going to need to get someone with a meter to either track down what’s using the power (likely) or to tell you that Actew’s meter is off calibration (unlikely). I’m sure there are plenty of energy audit people who will do that for you. Any idiot with a clamp meter can also do it. I can offer the ‘idiot with a clamp meter’ service for you for a couple of cases of beer.

Dilandach said :

p996911turbo said :

Dilandach said :

You read that ACTEW? Perhaps I should ring up one of the tabloid shows, I’m sure they’d love to see the 5 years worth of $1500 quarters.

Are you suggesting they’re billing you for more than you actually use? Because you can always check that. And it’s pretty rare for the meters to be wrong. I suspect they’re billing you correctly, you just use a LOT of electricity.

Maybe it’s worth paying someone to come out with a meter and tell you what appliances are using the power.

I have a fridge, a TV, freezer a computer and lights. A dryer we use when its raining, electric oven and electric water heater. The ducted heating had the fuse taken out of it in an effort to find the offending item. I don’t have a pool, I don’t have anything that would be large usage.

Unless I’m running everything turned on 24 hours a day 7 days a week, I can’t be using the electricity I’m charged for. It falls on deaf ears, I’ve complained and nothing has been done.

You’ve probably already checked but is your hot water system leaking?

Dilandach said :

I’ve looked for wires or anything that would indicate someone tapping in. I suspect that the previous occupants were growers and ACTEW have just been doing guesstimates ever since based on ‘past usage’ which is the line that is always trotted out on me.

Doesnt your bill have the meter reading on it (estimated or actual)? You can just go and check your meter and see if there is a major discrepancy

funbutalsoserious said :

It’s a pity we can’t say the same about the insane cost of water eh?

+100000 .. water & sewage is ridiculous considering the supply charge alone is about 85% the total billing cost .. not much of an incentive to reduce usage IMO.

Diggety said :

Dilandach said :

Diggety said :

$1200 – $1500???

Time to disconnect the Large Hadron Collider there Dilandach.

I wish, at least something useful would be coming out of it. You read that ACTEW? Perhaps I should ring up one of the tabloid shows, I’m sure they’d love to see the 5 years worth of $1500 quarters.

So, you’d be using around 80kWh/day average right? I’d highly recommend getting an energy audit done on your new digs… Your electricity usage is an order of magnitude higher than most!

Any dodgy neighbours with glowing sheds?

I’ve looked for wires or anything that would indicate someone tapping in. I suspect that the previous occupants were growers and ACTEW have just been doing guesstimates ever since based on ‘past usage’ which is the line that is always trotted out on me.

HiddenDragon11:16 am 23 Apr 13

Diggety said : “Time to disconnect the Large Hadron Collider there Dilandach.” – elephant stamp with gold star for that effort, I reckon.

More seriously, I wonder whether the relentless trend towards open plan (i.e. saving building costs on internal walls and doors) might be contributing to eye-popping heating and cooling bills.

p996911turbo said :

Dilandach said :

You read that ACTEW? Perhaps I should ring up one of the tabloid shows, I’m sure they’d love to see the 5 years worth of $1500 quarters.

Are you suggesting they’re billing you for more than you actually use? Because you can always check that. And it’s pretty rare for the meters to be wrong. I suspect they’re billing you correctly, you just use a LOT of electricity.

Maybe it’s worth paying someone to come out with a meter and tell you what appliances are using the power.

I have a fridge, a TV, freezer a computer and lights. A dryer we use when its raining, electric oven and electric water heater. The ducted heating had the fuse taken out of it in an effort to find the offending item. I don’t have a pool, I don’t have anything that would be large usage.

Unless I’m running everything turned on 24 hours a day 7 days a week, I can’t be using the electricity I’m charged for. It falls on deaf ears, I’ve complained and nothing has been done.

Dilandach said :

Diggety said :

$1200 – $1500???

Time to disconnect the Large Hadron Collider there Dilandach.

I wish, at least something useful would be coming out of it. You read that ACTEW? Perhaps I should ring up one of the tabloid shows, I’m sure they’d love to see the 5 years worth of $1500 quarters.

So, you’d be using around 80kWh/day average right? I’d highly recommend getting an energy audit done on your new digs… Your electricity usage is an order of magnitude higher than most!

Any dodgy neighbours with glowing sheds?

devils_advocate10:36 am 23 Apr 13

Diggety said :

$1200 – $1500???

Time to disconnect the Large Hadron Collider there Dilandach.

Agreed – that is insane.

Granted I’m (for the most part) living alone but I freak out if my bill goes above $180 (I have gas heating and hot water).

p996911turbo10:35 am 23 Apr 13

Dilandach said :

You read that ACTEW? Perhaps I should ring up one of the tabloid shows, I’m sure they’d love to see the 5 years worth of $1500 quarters.

Are you suggesting they’re billing you for more than you actually use? Because you can always check that. And it’s pretty rare for the meters to be wrong. I suspect they’re billing you correctly, you just use a LOT of electricity.

Maybe it’s worth paying someone to come out with a meter and tell you what appliances are using the power.

Diggety said :

$1200 – $1500???

Time to disconnect the Large Hadron Collider there Dilandach.

I wish, at least something useful would be coming out of it. You read that ACTEW? Perhaps I should ring up one of the tabloid shows, I’m sure they’d love to see the 5 years worth of $1500 quarters.

Dilandach said :

Ha! I pay anywhere from $1200 – 1500 per quarter.

I’ve pulled the fuse out of the ducted heater, I’ve turned off power to the garage. I don’t have a pool, nor running anything but the normal appliances within the house. I don’t have a growing room. Its a family of four. Yet we still apparently use more than double electricity of those around.

I’ve complained to ACTEW but the untrained chimps say “oh, that’s normal usage.” “I don’t see anything wrong” and get annoyed when I suggested its a problem. Normal usage is around the $3-500 per quarter.

I’m moving soon so apathy has taken over, the next place will have the electricity account in the name of my mrs. At least then there won’t be any link or any attempt at guesstimates based on previous usage.

$1200 – $1500???

Time to disconnect the Large Hadron Collider there Dilandach.

funbutalsoserious9:58 am 23 Apr 13

It’s a pity we can’t say the same about the insane cost of water eh?

Ha! I pay anywhere from $1200 – 1500 per quarter.

I’ve pulled the fuse out of the ducted heater, I’ve turned off power to the garage. I don’t have a pool, nor running anything but the normal appliances within the house. I don’t have a growing room. Its a family of four. Yet we still apparently use more than double electricity of those around.

I’ve complained to ACTEW but the untrained chimps say “oh, that’s normal usage.” “I don’t see anything wrong” and get annoyed when I suggested its a problem. Normal usage is around the $3-500 per quarter.

I’m moving soon so apathy has taken over, the next place will have the electricity account in the name of my mrs. At least then there won’t be any link or any attempt at guesstimates based on previous usage.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.