I am moving out for the first time and I have got stuck on who I should go with for my gas & electricity services, I don't really understand who has the best deal and what to look for. I was looking at AGL and Simply Energy.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
"they all sell at the same wholesale price"
Um, No.
"if you move into a house that has solar on the roof , you will not get the credits. the house owner gets the credits."
Um, No.
"its easier to deal with a supplier whose service desk closes at say 8pm rather than at 5.30"
All major retailers seem to close 6-6.30pm…Some of the smaller guys open til 8pm but good luck getting a call centre staff member who can actually help…if calling after work matters that much then just use a retailer that offers call backs or contact via their website…
If its to do with no power just call your distributor…
"who has cheap peak and off peak - they are the killer"
Depends on the configuration of the meter at the premises…
"electric hot water - its a scam!!!"
So what do people in regional areas do if there's no natural gas?
"they all sell at the same wholesale price"
NO WAY… Couple of years back I installed a Solar system and moved to a smart meter. Then I started shopping for a retailer to get a good rate. All the retailers have very high rate for a unit when you are on a smart meter. But it's exact same electricity. So I started querying on this issue with them. I argued that they shouldn't increase the price just because I installed a solar system and it was me who paid the price for Solar not them. So I should get the benefit of it as I need to recover my capital in few years.
I was with Red Energy at that time and looking to move but they all had the same issue. The support guy at Red Energy blamed the power supplier and said they charge more in SE Melbourne and that's why my rates are higher than other areas of Melbourne.
Then I called Energy company and managed to talk to a manager at the end. He said their prices are published in their web site. He asked me to compare how much they charge per unit in peak and off-peak and compare with the rate that retailers charge. To my surprise retailers are charging more than 10 times for everything and this is just to print a bill, collect money and maintain a call centre. Energy companies charge so little for producing electricity, distributing, maintaining grid and reading meters. So can not blame energy company in here.
I was told that politicians introduced this system few years back to create a competition among retailers to bring the price down but it has back fired when all the retailers got together and started ripping off the customers. So the blame should go to politicians who created this system. If we think further we should blame ourselves for electing them to screwup the whole system for us. :(
Wow. So much incorrect information here as well.
I mean seriously we have Google. GOOGLE. You can find the FACTS on numerous of your concerns and opinions within seconds with a simple web search.
The power is in your hands. Use it wisely….and don't spread crap if you don't know what you're talking about.
When energy company charges 5 cents for daily service fee and retailer charges 85 cents, googling would not fix that problem. When I came across this I rang at least 5 retailers and compared prices in yourchoice as well. The daily service fee charged by all the retailers were varying between 70 - 88 cents. In this case how would you find a price without getting ripped off?? This was similar with energy usage rate as well. The best case would be closer to 300% more than what energy company charges if not more.
Can you use your amazing Google and find me a retailer who only keeps 100% or even 200% profit markup without ripping us off by charging 300% - 1000% from the energy company's prices?
If you can please use Google and find the retailer it will help the whole ozbargain community. :)
Use http://yourchoice.vic.gov.au/ to compare prices.
Red Energy has a referral $50 sign-up bonus and Dodo has $25.
PM me if you want either.
I think you'll find the best company is going to vary by state as each state is done differently. I think in NSW it is the case that all retailers work off the sale wholesale rate but this doesn't apply in other parts of the country. We looked into it a while ago personally and ended up with Origin Energy for our electricity and gas as they were offering the biggest discounts. Now though if I could do it over I would have stuck with Energy Australia. Have had a couple of incorrect billing issues with Origin that are still in the works and seem to be taking a while to fix.
If anyone is still comparing rates and companies, I put together a spreadsheet to use as an additional resource to the EME website. Message me if you have any questions!
Just choose any provider that has the government regulated plans.
Don't signup for those save 20% plans, the prices will rise before your eyes.
remember they are al retailers - they all sell at the same wholesale price. if you move into a house that has solar on the roof , you will not get the credits. the house owner gets the credits.
make sure you get a retailer who has a service desk that doesnt close at 5 or 6pm - because when you need issues resolved (and you WILL have issues - just accept it) its easier to deal with a supplier whose service desk closes at say 8pm rather than at 5.30 and also make sure they are open on weekends….
if you need a name - start with Origin and anyone that pays you discounts for early payment and also who has cheap peak and off peak - they are the killers. if youre renting - make sure EVERYTHING IS GAS!! forget about a rental property that has electric hot water - its a scam!!!
hope that helps and please report back if you find any bargains to the OB community…..