Hot water bill doubles up as wholesale gas prices go up by around 15%

rv2885 on 18/09/2014 - 11:21
Last edited 18/09/2014 - 11:22

Hi All,

We have a centralized hot water system in our property which services multiple units. Origin energy supplies the Gas to this system. Each unit has an individual meter. My billing cycle is quarterly and the last two bills were around 180~190 $.

I am based out of Macquarie Park, NSW.

I got my latest bill which comes down to 363$, almost double of my regular usage. I did not receive any kind of advance notice about changes in GAS prices or the billing structure. Now when I go through the bill,
they have made multiple changes to how I get billed: Latest Bill

  1. My 90 day billing period has been split to 40 days and 60 days, due to which I am being charged twice at the max rate.
  2. For the second 60 days for which I was billed, they have increased the number of units being charged under the max rate (1st slab).

I find this ridiculous, when I spoke to the customer care: They tell me, that the price change is at a wholesale level and thus did not have to inform me at all. And they just keep repeating the bill details like a stuck record.

Did anyone else face this kind of issue with their last Gas bill?
The meter reading is fine, and there was a slight increase in my usage; around 15-20%, so would not expect the bill to go up by more than 20-25% of the previous bills.

Any thoughts on what I can do about this?

Thanks,
RV

Home & Garden

Comments

  • pjetson on 18/09/2014 - 13:18

    You have clearly been charged the wrong rate for the 60 day period - all of that usage should have been charged at the 2.277 rate, which means you've been overcharged by $41.41 (by my calculation).

    If you explained your problem to Origin and they have refused to correct it, you should go to the Energy Ombudsman web site and make a complaint. In the resolution section, ask for the $41.41 to be refunded (not credited) and ask for a goodwill gesture for the time and hassle.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/09/2014 - 14:07
    +1

    There are certain threads regarding this on W'Pool.

    Apparently in blocks of units there might be one centrally heated HW tank to service all units.

    With pipes continuously running hot water through the entire complex, to ensure that when one turns on a hot water tap one doesn't have to wait an extended period.
    Even if insulated, there would be significant heat losses from this form of central heating ;-)
    Good in winter - not so good in a heat-wave!

    Were this central HW tank to spring a leak, bills would jump with the need to continually heat the incoming replacement water.
    Ask others about their bills?

    You don't appear to have a separate supply charge; nor a separate GST addition?? Could you advise on this please.

    Your bill shows Actual readings - BUT you have a long quarter (99 days rather than a standard 91) & 60/99 of this might be subject to Winter Peak NG prices. Both of these would increase your bill - in addition to any increase in rates.

    Average daily MJ usage is around 118.
    {An instantaneous NG HW might have given you over 5 full baths a day from 118MJ - or around 390 litres of 70C hot water, raised by some 60C from outside temperature].

    Usage is measured by the volume of water one uses. How does this compare * on a daily basis * with Actual figures from the previous bill?

    The Adjustment factor seems to be a particular problem!!
    Someone has to pay for keeping this swimming pool of hot water warm; & the central heating of the entire complex.
    Were you the only occupier you would be stuck with the entire cost. Without full occupancy - even neighbours taking a holiday in sunnier climes - you are stuck with an increased share of the fixed overheads of keeping the tank warm, & water in the pipes hot. Apparently some don't pay any NG bill - so others are left to shoulder their share.

    All, in all, a co$t to be considered.

    From a VIC perspective I might assume that your bill is GST inclusive, & that my daily service charge is incorporated in the higher MJ rates you pay for the first 41.1MJ a day.
    Your July rates are around 20% higher - slightly less for your initial daily usage band.

    I will go back to refresh my memory of your actual bill.
    BUT an examination of the historical figures for both DAILY HW Volume usage, & this CRITICAL bill "Conversion Factor" would be of great interest.

    Cheers

    • [Deactivated] on 18/09/2014 - 22:46

      Even after allowing for other factors, your "Conversion Factor" might be contributing around half your increase - which might be the case if this had also increased by around a third?

  • ESEMCE on 18/09/2014 - 15:02
    +2

    Check out the daily surcharge as well..
    Gas usage is dropping so they increase the service fee to compensate.
    There's nothing we can do, our governments screwed us all royally during Privatisation to maximise the price of the Utilities.
    Even if your Utility company is still Government owned, they just match the prices (roughly) of other states.

  • Colombian on 18/09/2014 - 19:27

    Central Hot Water is the worst thing I have come about. I did not know that thing existed until 2 years ago when I moved to this unit. I had to ask the landlord to install an independent has heater for this unit as the bill alone for Hot Water was the same as the gas and electricity bill combined in the unit where we lived before.

    In addition to Hot Water I had to pay gas too for the stove…. paid more for supply charges than usage. Fortunately all changed when the landlord installed the gas heater.

  • eatwell365 on 19/09/2014 - 04:17

    Think the supply charge has increased since last quarter on my gas bill also.
    A letter says there will be a refund and back date from 1 July due to abolishimg of carbon tax.

    • ESEMCE on 19/09/2014 - 07:39

      Well that'll account for ~$20 maybe.

  • hazzad on 19/09/2014 - 10:49

    I would be surprised to find that its legal for any utility to raise your tariff without prior notice for the simply reason that it gives you the option to shop your service for a better option. Id question this again and if they give you the same answer take it up with the appropriate ombudsmen. Different states may have different laws but Ive certainly always received advance notice of tariff rises in Vic.

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