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Victoria

Power surge as savings cost more

An electricity retailer has warned that Victorians will have up to $150 added to their bills when the state moves to Smart Meters. Domenic Capomolla, chief executive officer of second-tier retailer Simply Energy, says Smart Meters will increase costs for suppliers. To keep their profits, they will have to pass these on to households and small business.

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Fear for rights of water-bill defaulters

Melburnians with overdue water bills could have their property seized, interest charged on their bills and their rent diverted if promised legislative changes go ahead. The city's three water retailers will soon have their powers redefined by the State Government, in a bid to create greater efficiency and consistency. But a number of little-known clauses in the Water Act 1989—which the retailers will soon become bound to—have alarmed welfare and consumer groups.

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National

Neighbourhood Energy penalised for calls made to numbers on the ‘Do Not Call’ Register

Neighbourhood Energy Pty Ltd (Neighbourhood Energy) has paid a penalty of $22,000 after the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)conducted an investigation that found one of the company’s outsourced Australian call centres made telemarketing calls to numbers listed on the Do Not Call Register (the register).

This is the first time that the ACMA has taken action against a company for a contravention of this particular part of the Act, and follows the ACMA's targeting of particular industry sectors, including the retail energy sector.

Read the ACMA media release.


Loans of $10,000 to lower home energy use

The Federal Government will offer people interest-free loans of up to $10,000 to help them make their homes more energy- and water-efficient.

The loans will be available to households with a combined income of up to $250,000 and be interest-free for four years. The Government anticipates that loans will be repaid in that time but if they are not then market interest rates will apply to the remainder of the loan.

Read the full report.


Power companies told to clarify green claims

Customers can pay up to 30 per cent more to get their power from renewable sources like wind farms. Electricity companies have been told to change the language they use to sell renewable energy because of concerns it may mislead customers. The edict has come from GreenPower, the government accreditation program which oversees the various green energy technologies which claim to emit less carbon.


Read the full report.


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