Utilities - And how do I change them?

Install a solar array. ActewAGL will pay you 53c for every kilowatt you feed into the grid, and charge you 13c for every kilowatt you use from the grid. Of course the other utilities will probably pay/charge about the same.

Do you have to enter into a contract with any of these companies? I remember when I was researching this a few years ago, some companies require you to sign a 24 month contract. This is not exactly convenient if you are a renter. At the time I did not know if I was to stay at my place long term, so I just went with ACTEW.

I’m now in NSW but went with ACTEW as CountryEnergy’s customer service was absolutely useless. I’d booked them to connect me on the day before I moved in, but two days later, still no power and one very upset Swami. Called ACTEW and even though they purchase the lines or whatever from CE, they had the power on with in 24hrs. I’m very happy with ACTEW!!

Ill stick with the devil I know in this case I think as I don’t see TruEnergy investing in renewable energy projects like ACTEW (actual projects not “green” energy).

I actually found the service of ACTEW to be pretty good in recent years, I dont know where the other providers,,,,,, sorry, resellers base their call centres but its good to know I am speaking to a Canberran when I call ACTEW in relation to my bill.

I just checked my current bill against Truenergy and it’s cheaper with ActewAGL, not by much, but a little bit

I went with Country Energy, for the sole reason that they actively sought my business when they came to town. ACTEW had assumed people would just stay with them when a new biller rolled into town, and made no effort to retain our household on their books (or anyone else’s, to my knowledge). I decided not to reward complacency!

I wish this thread had existed when I bought my house earlier in the year. The power was still connected but the previous owner had skipped the country without paying the $300 bill for the quarter prior to the purchase. ACTEW decided they’d just whack it and the connection fee onto my account and it took several phone calls and my having to prove that I had only bought the house well after the account was issued before they would relent. Every time I see them advertising how wonderful they are I still have steam coming out of my ears! Might investigate some of the competition even now – that TruEnergy deal sounds good.

I switched to TruEnergy. 3% off the standard gas and electricity tariffs and another 3% off if you pay on time. I switched online via their website quote thingy http://www.truenergy.com.au

And I have noticed no difference in the quality of the gas or electricity entering my premises 😉

Country Energy operate in the ACT. I know they do Natural gas in NSW, but I don’t know about the ACT.

Whether there are any savings to be made over ACTEW is another thing too.

Thanks for reminding me, it’s time I abandoned ACTEW now that my bundling contract has finished, and find another utility. I think there is a NSW one – southern energy? – that operates in the ACT and you can contract to supply your gas and electricity.