Help is on the way for thousands of households struggling with skyrocketing electricity costs.
The NSW Government has vowed to shake up the electricity market as part of its 2018-19 state budget, which will be unveiled on Tuesday.
Under the new initiative to be announced this week, Services NSW staff will check household energy bills and help consumers flick the switch to a better deal.
The free service will allow households to compare and switch providers with the click of a mouse.
The New South Wales Government aims to give households more power to flick the switch to better electricity deals (stock image)
‘We want NSW customers to feel empowered to drive down the price of their bills by switching to the best deal available and that’s what this initiative will do,’ finance minister Victor Dominello (pictured) said
Service NSW will continue searching for better deals even after households make the switch.
The Australian-first policy is expected to save households $1000 a year on average and even more for some families, The Daily Telegraph reports.
It will be trialled at Service NSW centres at Wynyard, Lismore, Parramatta, Taree and Wetherill Park before it’s rolled out statewide.
The energy reforms promise to offer better deals than basic comparison websites.
‘One Click Energy Switch will not only find you a cheaper energy bill, it will allow you to change your provider with a click of a mouse or a quick chat with our Service NSW staff,’ Premier Gladys Berejiklian told The Daily Telegraph.
Finance Minister Victor Dominello added: ‘We want NSW customers to feel empowered to drive down the price of their bills by switching to the best deal available and that’s what this initiative will do.’
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) will announce more details about the new initiative when the 2018-19 state budget is unveiled on Tuesday
The Australian-first policy is in NSW expected to save households $1000 a year on average
News of the new initiative comes days after the federal government followed up on its agreement with energy retailers and has asked the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) to make a new rule forcing energy retailers to inform households when they are on an expensive standing offer.
‘The new rule will require retailers to contact those customers who have been on a standing offer for more than 12 months and encourage them to consider better alternatives,’ Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said this week.
‘Standing offers tend to be the most expensive offers in the market. The AEMC has found the difference between the average standing offer and the best market offer is between $170 and $507 per year.’
In 2017, the federal government demanded retailers to write to customers to inform they could save hundreds by switching from so-called standing offers.
Around 260,000 customers are now on a better deal as a result.
The federal government has called for a new rule forcing energy retailers to inform households when they are on an expensive standing offer
Electricity retailer AGL announced last week that it will slash power prices across NSW, Queensland and South Australia from July 1.
This will mean an average 0.3 per cent drop for NSW households, 1.6 per cent drop in Queensland and 0.4 per cent cut in SA.
‘We understand power prices have been high and that has put pressure on many households,’ AGL chief customer officer Melissa Reynolds said.
‘While these price cuts are slight, they’re part of a downward trend that is emerging as more investment in new sources of supply comes into the market. A record number of customers are seeking out better deals and we welcome this clear sign of healthy competition.’