The Victorian Government has announced today that from July 1, 2022, if you use the Victorian Energy Compare website to see if there are better energy deals available for you, the Government will give you $250, even if you don’t end up switching to a new provider. It’s essentially a $250 payment to every household in Victoria (with a limit of 1 payment per household) by filling out a form which takes a few minutes. (Which is why I have not marked it as a freebie).
Did I talk about state government / opposition?
Yes, this thread is about state government spending…
Something Dan Andrews is excelling at…
@jv: Well I changed the topic and if you decide to talk about state government please respond to a different comment or add your own. I hope English is your second language because it is embarrassing if you can't follow the conversation.
it is embarrassing if you can't follow the conversation.
You must get embarrassed easily then…
@jv: It is okay. Because the point is "you don't get it" (even after I told you once, you must have a hard time following simple things in life). Wear safety goggles when you are grinding those axes because it is making you blind.
Doesn't taxation fall under federal matters, rather than state?
Ok correction. What a &$$#ing waste of Victorian's money.
Wasting by… giving it back to the taxpayers?
@mangobango: You can only give away something you have - the Victorian government is flat broke with over $150bio of debt
Victoria's budget is still allocated by Federal.
And we always get the short end of the stick.
I rather pocket the money if its available than the government saving it bit by bit, only give it as a lump sum all in one go to someone like Gerry Harvey. He then dishes out a few minor discounts and people here swoon back to him using some lame excuse for supporting his shops again.
Only a waste if you don't take up the offer.
Households that have previously claimed a $50 or $250 Power Saving Bonus will be eligible for this new one-off payment when the program opens in July.
Brace yourself for extreme price rises in energy - electricity and gas! It will get pretty expensive. The Russia - Ukraine war leaves it's mark already in Europe (and it will get worse - 30-80% higher prices (!!!!) are the new normal ). Most Australians don't see the major impact here.
Unfortunately I guess Australian Energy producers will just jump on the bandwagon and raise prices here as well - citing world energy market prices. (Even if most of our energy is locally sourced and produced - we have solar, we have coal, we have gas, … but still the prices we pay will be heavily influenced by the world market. I just compared my existing gas rates with new ones I could sign up for and I see already a 15% difference.
I guess even with this $250 you might be worse of next year. But it will definitely help a lot of people.
(I am in Melbourne and heating and cooling is the biggest contributor to my energy bill. Tip: Insulate your house, draft proof it. (this is so important and saves a lot!!!) Make the switch to an energy efficient heat source such as a modern heat pump (split system). Check out my comment here: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/12042888/redir
Brace yourself for extreme price rises in energy - electricity and gas! It will get pretty expensive. The Russia
We don't import our energy.
This is exactly my point - we do not import our energy and still prices will still skyrocket. When Europe gets switched off Russian gas we might export more of our energy - prices will go up. Not in our control. I guess we just wait and see what happens.
But what is in our control to make our houses more efficient that they don't use too much energy and are more comfortable. (And of course do a comparison for a cheaper supplier to get the $250).
we might export more of our energy
How?
We don't have a pipeline for gas or electricity cables to Europe.
@jv: This also exactly my point … Australians don't understand the impact yet!
We are the 5th largest exporter of gas in the world. And for coal we are the 2nd largest exporter in the world! You do not need to export the finished product (electricity).
Here some info:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-04/australian-coal-expor…
https://www.ga.gov.au/digital-publication/aecr2021/coal
https://www.ga.gov.au/digital-publication/aecr2021/gas
https://theconversation.com/how-disrupted-russian-gas-suppli…
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/households-set-for-high…
Saying that … there was even talks about a undersea electricity cable in the future (but if this happens … not sure). https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanburgos/2022/03/15/austr…
Not if the voters in electorates decide to elect Climate 200 independents and there is no major party majority in control the of parliament
Fixed that for you.
Assume you are aware that the Essential Services Commission has a process which reviews and approves (in Victoria) changes to electricity default offer prices, so there is a mechanism (in theory) to control unjustified price increases.
Looks like the increase for 1st July 2022 has already been drafted.
https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/prices-tariff…
Agree with you that focusing on your own usage and energy efficiency of your home is key to controlling spend.
Add 'energy' to the likes of beef and seafood.
There are just some things which should never be subjected to this much extent of global markets if we're the ones producing the stuff.
Domestic priority or whatever the fancy legal mumbo jumbo term for it is.
One of the (major) downsides of privatisation of your energy - why would I sell it locally for $ when I can export it for $$$'s?
why would I sell it locally for $ when I can export it for $$$'s?
How will we export our electricity or natural gas?
Oh yes, inflation and energy price increases around the world are due to "Putin's price hike". Nothing to do with printing trillions of dollars, shutting down of base load power plants for renewable energy technology that doesn't exist (Bowen lives in an alternative universe), exporting all our gas and killing off mining and exploration efforts. Nope, it's all Russia's fault. Of course, I'll just leave my brain behind at the next ABC report. Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Thanks OP
Link says:
All Victorian households will receive a $250 bill busting bonus if they seek out a better energy deal on Victoria’s Energy Compare website – saving hundreds of dollars.
This is a lie…
if
Some households are not eligible to receive this.
The announcement is deliberately misleading…
Candle power?
It's only valid for 'poor' people:
- Centrelink Pensioner Concession
- JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy
- Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession
- Or hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card
Isn't that for the current scheme that ends 30June22?
It is
oh you're right.. will the new scheme on July 1 also have similar restrictions and only be available for concession card holders, or is it open to anyone
It explicitly states 'all households'.
That's a seperate payment they're talking about
Do you have to pay fees to get your solar feed-in tariff switched on again when you change your provider?
Nope.
For those comparing this to similar announcements from the federal LNP, I'm conservatively positive that this payment will be delivered (rather than only announced).
Another vote buying waste of taxpayer money. I'll have to take the $250, otherwise I'm out of pocket with extra taxes.
So can someone claim the current $250 on offer and receive the $250 after July 1st? My parents are on a pension and this would be helpful if they can claim both.
From the press release "Households that have previously claimed a $50 or $250 Power Saving Bonus will be eligible for this new one-off payment when the program opens in July."
Thanks, I'll go around and put apply for them tonight.
small gesture for all the lockdowns they endured
This application form is for the existing $250 Power Saving Bonus for Concession recipients.
Before submitting an application for the existing Bonus, please read the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility requirements for the existing $250 Power Saving Bonus for Concession recipients Program:
You must be a Victorian residential energy consumer (i.e. have a residential electricity account)
You must be receiving payments under one of the following concession programs:
Centrelink Pensioner Concession
JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy
Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession
Or hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card
Pension Concession Card holders who are not receiving payments, and Health Care Cards holders who are not receiving Youth Allowance, JobSeeker, Austudy or Abstudy payments, are not eligible.
Only one payment is available per eligible household.
You must be receiving payments under one of the following concession programs:
This is going to catch off guard quite a few people who reacted to this post.
Yeah, especially those that didn't read the details and think it's a 1-for-1 extension of the existing scheme (that has this criteria)
This isn't at you personally but your comment makes me think of those types who do react like that are probably the ones who blame everyone else but themselves when they take out ridiculous home loans and are "surprised" interest rates are going up and they might be in trouble.
that's the pre-1 July 2022 scheme
I used it in the past (I got $50 from memory), would I be entitled to have another one?
From the press release "Households that have previously claimed a $50 or $250 Power Saving Bonus will be eligible for this new one-off payment when the program opens in July."
They really should do one for phone plans, Nbn, and mechanics
They should do one for iceberg lettuce. $5 these days
Some conditions in order to get qualified
You must be receiving payments under one of the following concession programs:
Centrelink Pensioner Concession
JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy
Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession
Or hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card
for the current scheme, the one OP refers to is a new one starting 1 July
That's not the same one mate.
Wrong! This one from July is for all households.
No. This is from 1st July 2022. Read the press release attached as it clearly states for all victorian households
Eid Mubarak!
Great eid gift from Dan the man
Why are we negging him?
I just neutralized it
I think the VIC gov ran the same program a few years ago for free $50.
It is an attractive offer to let people be familiar with the comparison website and visit it regularly.
I have since used the tool once every 9-12 months and every time I find a cheaper electricity offer and saved at least 10%.
It just like what I do for mobile plan and NBN plan
sim hopping monthly and change NBN providers when 6 months promotion ends
So yeah, I support the program but I think $250 is too much, maybe keep it $50.
Maybe not enough people visiting to compare.
In theory getting people to compare to get a cheaper deal for energy is great for competition in the market. Reality is how many people are just lazy and won't take up the offer or do take it up but just stay on the same plan. Should force people to change to a better plan to get offer (unless already on or similar).
Does it really matter if people swap or not? It's their fault if they wanna pay a non competitive rate
What's the point of having the comparison site then? Yep it is their fault.
Great info thanks OP.
On a sidenote, be aware that certain retailers can be extra dodgy around their offers and conditions around this period so they are short listed on the page
best may not always be the best.
It seems that now the new energy plans no longer have the 12-month rate lock.
So if your current energy plan have you covered over this winter, do not switch.
Also some old plan might lock the rate for at least 12 months until the first rate review after the 12 months, so the rate would be locked for more than 12 months.
After a bit more thought, this is actually a really intelligent way to lower prices for consumers by bringing awareness to competition in the market.
Energy providers will have to keep prices low, if their prices hikes are transparent for everyone to see.
The government has probably tried in the past to subsidize the cost of energy for consumers by directly paying the provider.
But after a while, they'll want to raise prices; in addition to leeching from the government contribution)
So they're changing it up. And paying consumers instead.
It's a good way to break the cycle* at it's root.
A one time investment, with on-going benefits in the long term.
PS: It's a cycle, as tax-payers fund the government. It's worse than a double dip.
Is this indirect bribe before election? LULW
I don't think the offer is conditional on how you vote later on this year. You can take the money and vote for whoever you want.
Not much difference to ScoMo $250 bribe… It's also not conditional on how you vote in May ¯_(ツ)_/¯
The ScoMo $250 bribe was targeted to those receiving a benefits payment from the government.
Dan Andrews must have been sleeping. Or he is tricking public again. This scheme been around for 5 years or more. Just a cheap political bait for voting in his mate Albo in the coming election.
Even if you received the previous payments, you are eligible to apply again.
Not sure what is the trick ?
can we review the rates on our workplace too :-)
SO can we confirm all Victorians, or
Centrelink Pensioner Concession
JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy
Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession
Or hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card
Did you read the post or the linked info?
the new $250 payment will be open to all Victorian households who use the Victorian Energy Compare website to compare their energy deal and seek out a better price.
That awkward moment when you typed out your comment, your heart rate racing from so much hatred…if you had actually read the post then you would've known the payment doesn't start until July and it's for ALL Victorians.
Both for and against this.
For: the masses getting a better deal is a good thing, and its a great website.
Against: The govt is paying for this with debt. Debt costs over time in interest. We'll pay eventually.
I'll take my $250 sure, you basically have to or you are the one missing out. But the amount is excessive IMO. The old $50 deal and some more awareness campaining or maybe $100 would be enough to get people to bother to do it.
Given the increase in the amount I'm sure this is about more than just comparing electricity, likely to help Victorians deal with the drastic increases in cost of living (including electricity bills)
Will all the Dan Andrews haters apply for this?
Of course you will. You will be the first ones to apply.
What's your point?
Just noting that many are happy to criticise him consistently, but would be happy to take this $250 and continue to talk crap.
The money is not his to give.
@djlee: I know it is not. It is the taxpayers money.
I am just saying, the haters can continue to hate. More is being done by him than Scott Morrison. That is for sure.
What should they do honesty though? Give up a free $250 to make a point that nobody will even know about? Pretend as a hypothetical it's $5K that they're giving away to every person in Australia. Surely you would take the money right? But surely you'd be opposed to it from a policy standpoint?
@sevendollarsfifty: No, I just want those who continue to hate to acknowledge the good things Andrews has done for our state.
When good initiatives are released, the haters continue to to hate. But they will still be applying for it!
By your logic, people who are part of the LNP hating clique also should not claim any tax refunds they're elegible for, or any form of Government payment because we currently have a LNP Government, and such people taking the money means they've self compromised their position somehow.
@payton: Anyone who votes Liberal should be stripped of all rights and not be allowed to leave their house. 😂
stripped of all rights and not be allowed to leave their house
Funnily enough if you're in Victoria, it was your Labor govt that did this and barred you from leaving your house for many months haha, excepting essential reasons to get groceries etc
That weight lifting neighbour of yours could be a LNP voter, gasp! 🤣
![[VIC] Get $250 Payment When You Compare Energy Provider Offers @ Victorian Energy Compare (1 Per Household)](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/58/697758.jpg?h=ec12462e)
@netjock: Don't bother with JV.