Energy Matters Forums

[OldDuck]

Hi there. We have a 5 Kw system which was installed 16 months ago. My first three electricity bills were well into credit but I was told the Ergon ( we are rural Qld so no choice of suppliers) do not pay actual money until after 12 months. I received my first cheque last October. My next electricity bill is again a credit and on ringing Ergon was told they prefer to just pay once a year ! Can you imagine consumers telling Ergon they would like to pay their bill once a year and just accumulate debits up until then. Ergon have said if I ring after each bill they will send a cheque but what do other suppliers do? do you think this is reasonable? I need the money to compensate for the large original outlay of funds to install the system

[Tracker]

.
I think that I can comment on ENERGY AUSTRALIA or rather AusGrid, who did send payments when due..
AGL however, also have the same process as for you..

I have GAS and ELECTRICITY via AGL and I am required to ring them and request that the CREDIT on the Solar, be transferred to the GAS..

You are right.. How would it be if WE said , "Just ring me at the end of the year"..??
..
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[surfdragon]

I was with Country energy

and they did not pay any credit unless you rang and they would send a cheque ( I must say they were very efficient and courteous on the phone - not an arduous task as with some larger companies ).

I have since switched to origin ( who took overcountry energy ) because they offerd a better price deal ( as electricity and daily service charges were skyrocketing) and I think they have the same process

I am waiting for my first credit and will see how that goes

[Patrol3L]

Same story with Origin; we've had 2 bills (both in credit) from them and each time I've phoned them to request a cheque, been told that they are in the 'process of setting up an automated refund facility'. Meanwhile I'm sure they are keeping our money in a high return investment account. They have the hide to charge a $12 late payment fee, if ever the customer is late with their bill payments (which is never going to happen to me again, as the PV system is producing twice what we are using).

[bpratt]

Personally I'd prefer to only get one cheque a year, rather than cheques every quarter. I hate the hassle of banking cheques myself.

Of course if they were going to refund via EFT direct in to a specified account, that'd be different.

I'm betting in my case, whilst I got a credit this quarter, I may not the next quarter, so the credit would then get applied.

Horses for courses, YMMV, etc.

[Sonnig]

Of course if they were going to refund via EFT direct in to a specified account, that'd be different.

Diamond Energy will pay directly into your bank account every bill when your credit exceeds $50.

[Patrol3L]

Does anyone know who to contact to get the power companies to lift their game? The OFT?

[Aus]

I'm from SA and the legislation in SA require retailers to refund any outstanding credit at the end of each 12 month period. My retailer is Simply Energy and they gave all sort of excuses for not sending a credit after the 12 months had elapsed. After 4 months of phone calls I eventually went to the Electricity Ombudsman (one in each State) and complained - I had the refund within the week. For those in Qld - try that path, but you need to provide evidence of your attempts to sort things out with your retailer (dates, names of people and copies of any correspondence).

[Patrol3L]

Thanks for that info - will contact the ombudsman.
Not having to pay the credit for 12 months is a good way for the company to make money from the credit owing to its customers. I bet they do not give the customer 12 months to pay a bill!

[famlea]

Moderator- Post removed at Famlea's request