electricity and gas payments

[glass]

residential prices are regulated I thought?

 

[Soundguy]

residential prices are regulated I thought?

Well I guess not - if they all charged the same then there would be no competiton right? Clearly this is not the case as there is some variation between companies, although not huge. Electricity is far more expensive in SA than in VIC, I don't know if that is a regulatory difference or not.

 

[mosanator]

Well I guess not - if they all charged the same then there would be no competiton right? Clearly this is not the case as there is some variation between companies, although not huge. Electricity is far more expensive in SA than in VIC, I don't know if that is a regulatory difference or not.

If you opt in to the "contestable" market place there is a Tarrif range that is controlled by State IPART (Independent Pricing Tribunal thingy), this is where the competition comes in, but prices for Residental stay within the range. This usually also means a change over to a Time of Use Meter (extra cost here sometimes) and usually a fee for the meter. If you stay with your existing supplier you have a fixed tarrif schedule that can be changed (in NSW at least) only if the Distributor applies for a increase to IPART.

Soundguy may not have been fitted with a time of use meter and this maybe why they are saying you were incorrectly billed (but it sounds strange).

The ONLY people who have benefited from de-regulation and contestability of the Electricity market has been Big Business (and of course they passed those savings on to the customer......as they always do ), they is very little margin in the tarrif range for contestable residental customers (and then you have to watch the hidden costs).

 

[straitman]

I've just emailed Simply Energy to see how to use Amex for my future payments. :idea:

Simple Energy stated that they would accept AMEX for Direct Debit so they sent me a form. No provision on the form for an AMEX payment. When I asked again they suddenly remembered that they don't do AMEX at all any more :!: