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How is your electric bill?
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15288		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Journeyman [ Feb 14th, '13, 19:55 ]
Post subject:  How is your electric bill?
How many people have recently been told their electricity provider has goofed on their bills and now they owe extra money?

If so, who is your provider?

There are a number of customers of Energy Australia who have mentioned they are in this postion - one received no bills for 9 months. Being the generous hearted and trusting soul I am, I am wondering just how widespread this all is.

Something that occurs to me is the Carbon Tax - by messing up our bills, most of us will have no idea just how badly the Carbon Tax is hitting us. SO if this is widespread, we have a smoking gun. If it is just us here in Bendigo we have an impossibly incompetent provider - really? They can go up to 9 months and not notice a lack of revenue coming in? SERIOUSLY?

I've already found out the same provider was trying to hit us up for more money for Gas dating back months and in reality when they did an audit of my account, (sparked by me giving bank payment details) we are $192 in credit.

Check your bills. Check them again against what you have paid. If you have been told they are so sorry but they forgot to bill you previously, post here the basics - how much they reckon you owe, from when and who the company is.
Author:  Erich [ Feb 14th, '13, 20:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
4.2 KW Solar system here, They owe me +$1K ;)
Author:  seamonkey [ Feb 14th, '13, 21:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
2.9Kw system here and they owe me $200 :headbang: We only have one provider here so no choice.
Author:  Journeyman [ Feb 15th, '13, 05:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
I hate you both... ;)

Owe you as in 'overdue'?
Author:  gorotsuki69 [ Feb 16th, '13, 01:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
I have converted 99% of my house lights to LED. I buy them from ebay for about $3 each delivered and they have been great . 3w is equivalent to about 40w halogen and they don't contain toxic substances like CFL bulbs. Don't have a before/after power bill to compare though.


ohh and the 3kw solar system helps too :headbang:

excess electricity is sold back to the provider and shows on the bill as a credit. so the provider "owes" you the money . I'm not sure when it gets paid out though...
Author:  Yavimaya [ Feb 16th, '13, 07:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
3.76kw solar.
AGL - provider.
this summer bill i used $390 worth.
solar made me $340 or so worth.
Have a bill for $64.
The GST component is $37!!
They are trying to charge me GST for the whole amount i "used" from them, but not deducting from what they "buy'
from me.
I dont know if i should call my accountant, lawyer or the ombudsman.
I dont think calling them will help at all.
Author:  Journeyman [ Feb 16th, '13, 07:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
Jeez... you guys...!!!

Does nobody on mains power want to bitch about it? This is turning in to a brag-about-my-solar thread. Image

@Yavimaya - call the company first. The Ombudsman's first question will be, have you called the company.
Author:  gorotsuki69 [ Feb 16th, '13, 08:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
I had huge issues with Synergy when I first installed the solar. My advice:

make ONE complaint to AGL first and wait for a response . If no or unfavourable response in 48 hours, go straight to the ombudsman.

I made the mistake of making too many calls to Synergy and wasting my time with those incompetent fools...I should have gone to the ombudsman after the first complaint.
Author:  werdna [ Feb 16th, '13, 08:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
I'll give you free advice from an accountant.
They charge gst because they are registered for it.
I am assuming you are not.
Also, if they paid you gst you would have to pay it back to the government every quarter.
Home solar panels are not considered a business as the turn over is too small and you don't start producing expecting to generate an income off it. The money you make off the solar company is considered hobby income, so is tax free.

I have a 2.2kw system, my biggest bill since was $300, except when a circuit breaker flicked on one string. That bill was $650.
I love my solar :)
Author:  Charlie [ Feb 16th, '13, 08:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
Our electricity bill is about $120/month
Author:  Yavimaya [ Feb 16th, '13, 08:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
werdna wrote:
I'll give you free advice from an accountant.
They charge gst because they are registered for it.
I am assuming you are not.
Also, if they paid you gst you would have to pay it back to the government every quarter.
Home solar panels are not considered a business as the turn over is too small and you don't start producing expecting to generate an income off it. The money you make off the solar company is considered hobby income, so is tax free.

I have a 2.2kw system, my biggest bill since was $300, except when a circuit breaker flicked on one string. That bill was $650.
I love my solar :)


i didnt understand that its "hobby income", i thought like everything else i would have to declare it at the end of year.... whether people actually would is a different story. :P

I run a business, i know a little about GST and understand i dont want to be charging them, simply one of those "common sense" things i suppose.

What gets me is that they charge GST for what ive used, not 10% of the total bill owing.
It may (thats a huge may) be correct, but i seriously doubt it.
Its not them charging me/ me not charging them, i think they are overcharging me by a huge amount, i think my GST component on a bill like that should be more around the $5-6 mark, not $37.

Although as an accountant, you perhaps may know about that?
I might ring my accountant before them, so i dont look like a fool :P
Author:  Yavimaya [ Feb 16th, '13, 08:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
Sorry to take it slightly further off topic, people with solar, are your peak hour costs almost level with what you are being paid? Are they higher yet?

Im currently at paying them 32c/kwh
They pay me 33c/kwh

Im not looking forward to the day when these scum companies charge us more than they give us and the government lets them!
Author:  jamesvs400 [ Feb 16th, '13, 08:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
all electricity companies are evil!

if i had the money i would have a 10kw solar system, a generator and a 120kwh battery backup. :)

oh and a huge windmill!!! to pump all my water and grind my flour!

my electricity bill is fine. and just under $700 :) :| :( :'( :upset:
Author:  Privatteer [ Feb 16th, '13, 09:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
$110 credit. 1.2kW solar + 500w running aquaponics.

Paying 22.6, and exporting at 47c.

Regarding the GST I believe the argument is that you have used that power thus GST is due on what they sold you. The fact that the next day you sold them power and earnt a credit is irrelevant.
Author:  orcy2010 [ Feb 16th, '13, 09:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: How is your electric bill?
queensland changed the rules and now only pay 8c and charge around 25c.

not worth putting in any new systems, unless you only use electricity when its sunny.
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