Money is always tight for Hobart grandmother Kathy Flynn, but never before has a bill brought her to tears.The industry estimates residential energy consumption is up by between 15 and 20 per cent this winter
Consumer advocates have long feared a double whammy of larger winter heating bills combined with higher energy usage due to people spending more time at home during the pandemic.The industry estimates residential energy consumption has risen between 15 and 20 per cent due to the pandemic. "We see people taking on payday loans and unsustainable loan options to allow them to pay their bills and they often come with exorbitantly high interest rates that place people in worse and worse debt."New data from the Australian Energy Regulator shows almost 200,000 people across six states and territories are on payment plans, or have deferred paying their bills altogether.
The industry and its regulator said despite the challenges of the pandemic, energy retailers had responded swiftly to ensure people stayed connected.Australian Energy Regulator chair Clare Savage says thousands of people have asked for bill deferments and hardship plans during the pandemic. "People prioritise paying their household energy bills in much the same way that they prioritise things like rent," PIAC's Craig Memery said.
"I'm always at home, and the kids are going to school, so nothing has really changed," Ms Flynn said. Ms Flynn recently had a meter installed free of charge, which she hopes will go some way towards the family monitoring its energy use in real time and cutting costs.Craig Memery said until recently, energy retailers ranked below banks in terms of consumer trust."Trust needs to be earned, and now that's coming back to bite them in a situation where all of the good intentions that the industry might have are going to be hard for people to actually take on face value," he said.
She'd chosen a plan with higher prices but a pay on time discount and now she can't pay on time and has lost the discount?
Another reminder, our housing energy efficiency standards are poor. Need to fix the standards, then the houses, as a post pandemic job creator
renewables are cheap aren't they
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