Embedded Electricity/Gas Units

My partner bought a place off the plan 5 years ago, before we met.
We moved in December and I told her that I would take care of the switching the providers. Found out it's a embedded unit by Origin, from my limited understanding, I thought this was illegal here in NSW? Consumers must be given a choice.

To be honest, what Origin is offering is 86cents/day supply charge and 22centsKWH, which isn't too bad.
It's the gas that's BS, I'll bring it down below
Hot Water 71cents/day supply charge
Unmetered cooktop 24.914cents/day
Hot Water 1.5cents per litre of hot water

I'm already looking at over $86 in supply charge for gas alone, that's even more than my friend who lives with 2 others and their entire gas bill is $66/quarter.

What are my options here? What do I need to be able to change Gas providers if that's even possible?

Comments

  • https://www.aer.gov.au/consumers/information-for-electricity…

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-30/embedded-electricity-…

    Based on a quick scan of the above, it sounds like you'll need to take this up with your strata (or similar) provider.

  • Embedded network is a joke, I live in the same arrangement currently. Like you mentioned above, I also pay roughly $15-$20 more expensive than the previous provider i was with.

    Unmetered cooktop 24.914cents/day

    This is what killed the most, imagine you don't use your cooktop for a month but still have to pay for it.

    • Yea it’s hugely beneficial for those who cook a lot it would seem, and sucks if you don’t.

      Start a restaurant out of home? Lol

      • haha unfortunately me and my mates don't really cook a lot at home, we are just typical renters and love eating outside (though lately we have been trying to cook because of the covid situation).

        But I suspect, many utilities provider targeting apartment built for investment purpose, because they know the renters will not use much and they still get a lot of profit out of it.

        • So, as a renter, do you get told of this (it’s embedded there fore you have no retail choice etc) before you sign up for the apartment?

          • @cloudy: no, wasn't told anything about it. Now it's a lesson for me and maybe for everyone out there who is looking, always check.

      • +1

        Boil min 17L of hot water of kettle each day to break even. Mix with cold water for shower perhaps?

        • +1

          I’d be taking baths instead

    • luckily for us, we do cook a lot, my partner works from home so cooks lunch and dinner.
      But my friend who shared with 2 roommates and they cooked a lot, their entire bill was $66/quarter. Still cheaper than me

      • My parents cooks heaps compared to us, we microwave left over food we get from them heaps yet our gas bills are similar. Our distributors are different even though our retailers are the same.

    • In Victoria, tenants do not need to pay for unmetered utilities. I recently sought reimbursement for 2 years of unmetered stovetop once I realised.

  • +1

    Unmetered cooktop 24.914cents/day

    Use this in winter to heat up your apartment.

    • Not a bad idea

    • Beat me by 7 minutes lol, was going to say the same.

      The real OzBargain is always in the comments.

    • Can you just store the gas and sell it?

  • Gas fired power generator on the stove. Mine bitcoin. Make bank.

    • Genius!

  • OP, can you PM me or turn the option for me to PM you, I have some questions regarding your experience. Thanks!

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