Taking Control of Energy

In this workshop... Understanding Bills 3 Easy Ways to Save Concessions & Grants Switch & Save Saving Energy Flexible Pricing Door Knocking Solving Problems

Essentials - Reading Bills

Reading Bills – High bills  Is the bill mine?  Did the prices go up?  Is the bill for more days than usual?  Was the bill based on a meter reading, or an estimate?  Has energy use changed compared to last bill or compared to same period last year?  Am I getting concessions?

Concessions & Grants

Save $400 a year Concessions & Grants

-17.5% off electricity bills Annual Electricity Concession -17.5% off winter gas bills Winter Gas Concession (1 May to 31 October)

Concessions & Grants Service to Property Charge Concession Controlled Load Electricity Concession Electricity Transfer Fee Waiver Non-Mains Energy Concession Medical Cooling Concession Life Support Concession Need to apply Automatic

Concessions & Grants Concessions Information Line on The company that sends your bills

Check concessions are recorded on every bill

Concessions & Grants Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS) Provides up to $500 each for: Electricity Gas and water Ask the company that sends your bill about URGS

Households can save up to $600 - $800 on electricity $370 - $500 on gas by switching from the worst to the best offer – St Vincent de Paul Switch & Save

What if you could easily compare energy companies? $890 $900 $930 $980 $1010 Switch & Save

You can with Switch & Save

independent up-to-date shows you all the generally available electricity and gas offers in Victoria Switch & Save

makes things easier by estimating the annual price of electricity and gas offers for your home Switch & Save

compare.switchon.vic.gov.au Switch & Save

It’s important to check the details  Will I be ‘locked in’ to the contract?  Will the price change?  How will I be billed?  How can I pay?  Is it a flexible pricing plan? Switch & Save

Flexible Pricing All appliances run at off-peak rates overnight

Saving Energy

70% of your bill comes from just three areas: Saving Energy

159 days below 18 o C - Melbourne has more cold days than hot Saving Energy

Heat your rooms to around 20 o C Seal draughts and cover windows Close doors to unused rooms Turn your heater off overnight or when going out Saving Energy

35 days of 30 o C or above - Melbourne is also quite hot!

Use a fan Shade windows on the outside of the glass Cool rooms to around 26 o C Turn air-conditioner off when going out Saving Energy

Hot water is one of the areas where most energy is used Saving Energy

Use a water saving shower head Try to keep your showers to around 5 minutes or less Wash your clothes in cold water Saving Energy

Fridges use about 18% of all electricity in the house Saving Energy

Keep fridge at 3 o C to 5 o C Keep freezer at -15 o C to -18 o C Move fridge away from the sun or heaters and keep ventilated Turn off second fridges or freezers when you don’t need them Saving Energy

One last thing… Turn off appliances when you are not using them Saving Energy

1.Is it cheaper to turn a heater off or leave it running while you’re out? – it is always cheaper to turn a heater off when leaving as you get charged for how long you use appliances 2. On a hot day, is it better to close your curtains or put some shading up outside? – it is much better to put shading up outside 3. Which is cheaper a fan or an air-conditioner? – a fan is about 20 to 40 times cheaper 4. Is it cheaper to wash clothes in warm or cold water? – washing clothes in cold water is much cheaper 5. What temperature is best to keep food fresh in a fridge? – between 3 o C and 5 o C Saving Energy Quiz

Energy Saving Quiz 6. How much energy does heating and cooling use in the average house? Is it 10%, 25%, or 40%? – 40% of the energy you use goes towards heating and cooling 7. What temperature is recommended for heating your home? – 20 o C or whatever is comfortable. Remember every 1 o C extra costs more! 8. What is best to do with 2 half full fridges? – fill one up fully and turn the other one off until you need it 9. How much water does a water saving shower head use? – one third to half a high flow shower head 10. Why seal draughts when the gaps are usually so small? – when added together the gaps are big and cause you to lose warm air that you’ve paid for

Door Knocking You have rights You can ask them to leave and they must: Go immediately Not return for 30 days You can change your mind if you buy something: You have a 10 day cooling off period You can shop around during this time

Door Knocking Door to door sales people cannot visit: On Sundays Public Holidays Before 9am or after 6pm Monday- Friday Before 9am or after 5pm on Saturday If you display a Do Not Knock sign

Payment Difficulty Ask for the Hardship Team: Affordable plans Referrals to free financial counsellors Energy saving advice Applying concessions and grants Can I speak to your hardship team? I’m in financial hardship and can’t afford to pay my bill now. Can you suggest a more affordable amount?

Solving Problems Step 1 – try to work it out with the company Call the company. Explain the issue and ask how it can be fixed Write down information about the call Someone else can talk in your behalf

Solving Problems Step 2 – call the Energy and Water Ombudsman

Questions?