New Amex statement credits

[sudoer]

Yeah I found the same. Stuck to origin for me

Must vary significantly by location, I'm inner west (ish) Sydney and when switching between Red and Origin earlier this year for QFF points and SC both my old & new Red plans were cheaper than Origin.

Red (old plan): 83c supply, 26.2c/kWh peak & shoulder, 25.5c off-peak
Origin: 86.1c supply, 29.43c/kWh all times
Red (new plan): 89.9c supply, 21.8c/kWh peak, 22.5c off-peak

I also saved money when moving to Red from Alinta around 2018.

 

[Infrequent traveller]

Don't sign up just because there is $100 dangling in front of you. Check that the rate they offer you is good first. I am in NSW and Red Energy had consistently been more expensive than at least 2 or more retailers for me.

Good advice. Thank you.

I only did a comparison against my existing provider, Energy Australia, and I am in Upper North Shore Sydney. The deal makes sense to me with usage rates marginally the same (after all those discounts) but the daily supply charge is around 10% cheaper. So the Amex offer results in a net gain.

Please you please share on what are the other cheaper suppliers so that I can take a look as well? Certainly I would appreciate comments on the user experience (not sure if there can be any difference as they are all resellers only, but billing accuracy, etc can be a concern).

 

[daft009]

Good advice. Thank you.

I only did a comparison against my existing provider, Energy Australia, and I am in Upper North Shore Sydney. The deal makes sense to me with usage rates marginally the same (after all those discounts) but the daily supply charge is around 10% cheaper. So the Amex offer results in a net gain.

Please you please share on what are the other cheaper suppliers so that I can take a look as well? Certainly I would appreciate comments on the user experience (not sure if there can be any difference as they are all resellers only, but billing accuracy, etc can be a concern).

to compare, use the govt site IMO

Energy Made Easy

Energy Made Easy is a free Australian Government energy price comparison service for households and small businesses in NSW, QLD, SA, Tas and the ACT.

energymadeeasy.gov.au

 

[andye]

This government site is helpful and I don't think you will get calls or emails

Compare energy plans with Energy Made Easy

Energy Made Easy is an Australian Government energy price comparison service for households and small businesses.The service is free and available in states…

www.service.nsw.gov.au

Edit:snap

 

[Chicken]

Must vary significantly by location, I'm inner west (ish) Sydney and when switching between Red and Origin earlier this year for QFF points and SC both my old & new Red plans were cheaper than Origin.

So you are in Ausgrid area. I'm in the west so Endeavour area. To illustrate why people need to call up and negotiate, don't take the $100 bait, Red Energy is currently offering 6c for feed in tariff. When I was last with Origin up till 2020 April, I was getting 21c, so Origin was paying me 3.5 x more than Red. I then left Origin due to their conduct with their licence application for fracking in the Northern Territory. I moved to AGL. AGL is currently paying me 21c, which is also 3.5 x more than Red. I would be losing a lot of money if I took the $100 bait.

to compare, use the govt site IMO

Energy Made Easy

Energy Made Easy is a free Australian Government energy price comparison service for households and small businesses in NSW, QLD, SA, Tas and the ACT.

energymadeeasy.gov.au

I have tried, and that web site would not show me any plan which gives me 21c for feed in; yet, this is how much I was being paid in my July bill.

Everyone's situation is different, and major electricity retailers have many unpublished rates which you need to call up and negotiate, you would never see them on public web sites (like Energy Made Easy). So I never take these baits, from AmEx or FlyBuys or anything else.

 

[Happy Dude]

So you are in Ausgrid area. I'm in the west so Endeavour area. To illustrate why people need to call up and negotiate, don't take the $100 bait, Red Energy is currently offering 6c for feed in tariff. When I was last with Origin up till 2020 April, I was getting 21c, so Origin was paying me 3.5 x more than Red. I then left Origin due to their conduct with their licence application for fracking in the Northern Territory. I moved to AGL. AGL is currently paying me 21c, which is also 3.5 x more than Red. I would be losing a lot of money if I took the $100 bait.



I have tried, and that web site would not show me any plan which gives me 21c for feed in; yet, this is how much I was being paid in my July bill.

Everyone's situation is different, and major electricity retailers have many unpublished rates which you need to call up and negotiate, you would never see them on public web sites (like Energy Made Easy). So I never take these baits, from AmEx or FlyBuys or anything else.

Then, it would seem that the energy companies are deliberately negating the whole point of the gov website. That is, having unpublished rates/deals pretty much makes the gov or any other website useless.

Red Energy rates, where QF points are involved, in the ACT are dearer than Origin with the supply charges being more than 20c/day dearer. Plus there were fees making it a no-go. More than a few would be interested to know how you got 21c feed in for solar without purchasing the panels through them.

 

[Chicken]

Then, it would seem that the energy companies are deliberately negating the whole point of the gov website. That is, having unpublished rates/deals pretty much makes the gov or any other website useless.

Yep, I have been doing this for the last 10 + years. Everytime when a contract ends, I call up heaps of electricity companies, then tell them the effective rates I would be on at that time, they would then come back with their rates plus whatever discount they could throw at me, giving me an effective rate per kWh and daily access fee. Then I would tell them which other retailer is ahead, and I would give them an opportunity to revise their quote.

I realised something funny was going on about 15 or 20 years ago, when electricity companies would either cold call me and make some offer which I have never seen, or I would churn to another retailer, then the old one would call me, begging me, asking what I was getting from the new retailer, then offer to beat them. That's when I realised that they have an allowance to go beyond their published rates.

More than a few would be interested to know how you got 21c feed in for solar without purchasing the panels through them.

I have a SolarEdge system, not sold by any electricity retailer, in fact, not a commonly sold system. But I'm still on 21c. You just need to call them up and really ask / question them.

Here is the bill I received last night, for the month of August 2021 (I'm on monthly billing)

To prevent us from going off topic, this is why many of these promotions are not of much use to me, because a few dollars here and there don't change the overall cost.

 

[WeeWillyWonka]

That's when I realised that they have an allowance to go beyond their published rates.

I have a friend who works for Energy Australia who confirmed this sometime ago: staff have leeway to make an offer below X% of your current rate. Don't like their counter offer? Tell them, and quite often the consultant will refer higher up to get a better deal.

 

[RAM]

to compare, use the govt site IMO

Energy Made Easy

Energy Made Easy is a free Australian Government energy price comparison service for households and small businesses in NSW, QLD, SA, Tas and the ACT.

energymadeeasy.gov.au

CAVEAT EMPTOR

The Govt site has numerous errors and outright rorts/lies put in it by several of the providers.

I posted about this in an AFF thread last year.

So, I challenged a couple of the companies to fix up the fairly blatant false statements etc. After talking with a senior exec at one - I then tried to contact who is actually making sure the information is accurate & honest - as surely there must be someone in th Fed Govt bureaucracies overseeing the site.

Tried the several lines and all roads led to nowhere. ACCC directed me to a Fed Govt Dept who directed me to another who gave me an email address to use.

Detailed the complaints - screen shots, links, dates & times of calls, names etc.

Time went by. Finally I got a phone call from some Fed Govt Dept (memory fails me here) and they were not sure what I was after!!

I then explained the evidence trail I had sent etc etc - and stated I was seeking whoever was responsible for the accuracy of the site.

"Oh, nobody is really, it is a joint project across several different portfolios to ensure consumers get lower prices."

So, in this case where I have uncovered false information and prices being understated - then who is going to follow-up & potentially penalise/fine the company?

"That's not how this works. We'll pass your 'feedback' on to the various providers you've named and they will fix it up."

Will that be checked by you?

"No, that's not my job. I respond to questions from the public."

Will anybody check this to ensure it is fixed so that false, misleading & deceptive claims are removed?

"Yes, the companies themselves."

I did check a few months later - nothing had been changed. So I rang the ACCC and said I wanted to lodge a formal complaint. After a discussion I was told that as I had not suffered a loss personally then I could not lodge a formal complaint about anything on the site.

 

[Infrequent traveller]

CAVEAT EMPTOR

The Govt site has numerous errors and outright rorts/lies put in it by several of the providers.

...

I did check a few months later - nothing had been changed. So I rang the ACCC and said I wanted to lodge a formal complaint. After a discussion I was told that as I had not suffered a loss personally then I could not lodge a formal complaint about anything on the site.

Thanks RAM for all your efforts. Exposing the craziness in bureaucracy is a feat by itself

 

[bits]

"Spend and get offer" - Spend $500 or more, get $50 back, up to 2 times. Offer expires 31/10/12. Appeared on my Platinum Reserve primary card only.

 

[Happy Dude]

Yep, I have been doing this for the last 10 + years. Everytime when a contract ends, I call up heaps of electricity companies, then tell them the effective rates I would be on at that time, they would then come back with their rates plus whatever discount they could throw at me, giving me an effective rate per kWh and daily access fee. Then I would tell them which other retailer is ahead, and I would give them an opportunity to revise their quote.

I realised something funny was going on about 15 or 20 years ago, when electricity companies would either cold call me and make some offer which I have never seen, or I would churn to another retailer, then the old one would call me, begging me, asking what I was getting from the new retailer, then offer to beat them. That's when I realised that they have an allowance to go beyond their published rates.



I have a SolarEdge system, not sold by any electricity retailer, in fact, not a commonly sold system. But I'm still on 21c. You just need to call them up and really ask / question them.

Here is the bill I received last night, for the month of August 2021 (I'm on monthly billing)View attachment 257135

To prevent us from going off topic, this is why many of these promotions are not of much use to me, because a few dollars here and there don't change the overall cost.

Great post - thanks for the info. I didn't have any luck negotiating with Red Energy, even though they called a few time. I clearly need to work on my bargaining skills. Anyway, yep we are OT here so thanks again.

 

[RAM]

Final OT on utilities.

Create a simple spreadsheet (or call in a favour).

Have one part for Gas, one for Electricity etc.

Have the fee inputs in cells above each table. BUT have two sets. One for your existing plan, one for the prospective.

Below those cells put in your figures from your last year's gas/power bills.


Unfortunately I use bug-free (due to not worth the effort for hackers) 1997 Lotus 123 package, so not usable for (many/any) others. Used to be able to convert to excel spreadsheets but now Excel won't recognise them (well for the last 11 years or so). Best $10 spent for the OEM CD, unfortunately the computer store next to Martin Place would not take Amex. - back on thread....

 

[Chicken]

Final OT on utilities.
Create a simple spreadsheet (or call in a favour).

Jesus, how are mods supposed to manage these people? From AmEx credits to electricity bill to Excel for Dummies?!

 

[Infrequent traveller]

Jesus, how are mods supposed to manage these people? From AmEx credits to electricity bill to Excel for Dummies?!

This is called Evolution, as coined by Darwin... LOL

 

[http_x92]

I guess this is where the Platinum Reserve would still come in handy (no additional fee) even though the Travel Credit is no more... more amex offers that can show up.

 

[daft009]

Final OT on utilities.

Create a simple spreadsheet (or call in a favour).

Have one part for Gas, one for Electricity etc.

Have the fee inputs in cells above each table. BUT have two sets. One for your existing plan, one for the prospective.

Below those cells put in your figures from your last year's gas/power bills.
View attachment 257243

Unfortunately I use bug-free (due to not worth the effort for hackers) 1997 Lotus 123 package, so not usable for (many/any) others. Used to be able to convert to excel spreadsheets but now Excel won't recognise them (well for the last 11 years or so). Best $10 spent for the OEM CD, unfortunately the computer store next to Martin Place would not take Amex. - back on thread....

Thanks for that screenshot.
Not hard to recreate in Google sheets based on that

 

[tinkybelle]

"Spend and get offer" - Spend $500 or more, get $50 back, up to 2 times. Offer expires 31/10/12. Appeared on my Platinum Reserve primary card only.

I got it on edge only though I have charge, reserve and business as well

 

[albyd]

Just tried to use the Ampol offer. Filled up at one abs dropped off at another Ampol as it was on my way home. Neither sell GCs anymore. Is this the same with all Ampol servos? Looks like I won’t be able to qualify for the Amex offers in a couple of my cards which are due to expire soon.

 

[SydneySwan]

Just tried to use the Ampol offer. Filled up at one abs dropped off at another Ampol as it was on my way home. Neither sell GCs anymore. Is this the same with all Ampol servos? Looks like I won’t be able to qualify for the Amex offers in a couple of my cards which are due to expire soon.

No GCs at all? Not even Ampol ones?