WA households are increasingly feeling the pain of steep electricity price rises.

The number of requests to the State's energy retailer Synergy for financial help jumped almost 50 per cent in the past year.

Amid warnings from Treasurer Christian Porter that power prices were likely to rise at levels above inflation for at least the next 10 years, figures from Synergy revealed 113,362 customers asked for more time to pay their bills last year. This was a 46 per cent increase on the corresponding figure for 2009, a staggering 175 per cent rise compared with 2008 and represented more than 13 per cent of the utility's customers.

In more worrying signs, the value of payments made to struggling customers through the hardship utility grants scheme almost doubled to $1.9 million, and more than 3600 homes and businesses were disconnected because they could not pay their bills.

The figures were the latest indication that a growing number of people have struggled to cope with a 46 per cent rise in electricity prices since the Barnett Government came to power in 2008 with a pledge to make prices cost-reflective.

WA Council of Social Service director of social policy Irina Cattalini described the figures as "really concerning".

She said they bolstered claims the universal pricing structure did not work and that the Government needed to consider a user-pays system, under which customers are charged progressively more depending on how much energy they consume.

However, Ms Cattalini applauded Synergy's financial hardship arrangements, saying many more people would have had their power disconnected in previous years.

Shadow energy minister Kate Doust, who seized on the figures to renew calls for an electricity tariff freeze, said Energy Minister Peter Collier was "asleep at the wheel".

"I don't know how many more people have to suffer and seek help before the Government wakes up and does something about it," she said.

Mr Collier said some of the rise in people applying for help was attributable to problems with Synergy's trouble-plagued billing system but conceded most of it was caused by price.

He rejected as "short-sighted" suggestions the Government freeze tariffs and said he was yet to be satisfied a user-pays regime would not hit poorer families hardest.

>:(

Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right?

Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing.

Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;)

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:06pm:

Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;)

You wouldn't need to look very hard to find soemthing to criticse the WA lib government about.

The sad thing is, the opposition are so inept, the libs will get re elected no matter what they do.

... wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:08pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:06pm: Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;) You wouldn't need to look very hard to find soemthing to criticse the WA lib government about. The sad thing is, the opposition are so inept, the libs will get re elected no matter what they do.

Send the Bill back to the Government if it is unreasonable and tell them the rich are practicing illegal usury. :)

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:03pm:

WA households are increasingly feeling the pain of steep electricity price rises. The number of requests to the State's energy retailer Synergy for financial help jumped almost 50 per cent in the past year. Amid warnings from Treasurer Christian Porter that power prices were likely to rise at levels above inflation for at least the next 10 years, figures from Synergy revealed 113,362 customers asked for more time to pay their bills last year. This was a 46 per cent increase on the corresponding figure for 2009, a staggering 175 per cent rise compared with 2008 and represented more than 13 per cent of the utility's customers. In more worrying signs, the value of payments made to struggling customers through the hardship utility grants scheme almost doubled to $1.9 million, and more than 3600 homes and businesses were disconnected because they could not pay their bills. The figures were the latest indication that a growing number of people have struggled to cope with a 46 per cent rise in electricity prices since the Barnett Government came to power in 2008 with a pledge to make prices cost-reflective. WA Council of Social Service director of social policy Irina Cattalini described the figures as "really concerning". She said they bolstered claims the universal pricing structure did not work and that the Government needed to consider a user-pays system, under which customers are charged progressively more depending on how much energy they consume. However, Ms Cattalini applauded Synergy's financial hardship arrangements, saying many more people would have had their power disconnected in previous years. Shadow energy minister Kate Doust, who seized on the figures to renew calls for an electricity tariff freeze, said Energy Minister Peter Collier was "asleep at the wheel". "I don't know how many more people have to suffer and seek help before the Government wakes up and does something about it," she said. Mr Collier said some of the rise in people applying for help was attributable to problems with Synergy's trouble-plagued billing system but conceded most of it was caused by price. He rejected as "short-sighted" suggestions the Government freeze tariffs and said he was yet to be satisfied a user-pays regime would not hit poorer families hardest. >:(

A Liberal Government who are squandering billions on regions for royalties when big power users are being subsidized by the working man.....The Barnett Government does not care how tough it is for West Aussies.....They are more concerned with the top end of town who pad his parties coffers!!!

>:(

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:06pm:

Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;)

Hello Andre....I believe the ETS has a compensation component built into it to compensate low and middle income earners, so in fact the impact will be minimal.....the benefits will probably also be minimal and a waste of time if the rest of the world does nothing.......I am convinced climate change is happening and something needs to be done but I do not believe in wrecking our economy to achieve bugger all!!!

The Barnett Government has hit low income earners hard whilst making cheap power available to big business.....I did not have to go searching for this story Andre....I am living it!!!

>:(

... wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:08pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:06pm: Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;) You wouldn't need to look very hard to find soemthing to criticse the WA lib government about. The sad thing is, the opposition are so inept, the libs will get re elected no matter what they do.

lol someone has been living under a rock and knows nothing of the fantastic 15 years of Labor in NSW

... wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:08pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:06pm: Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;) You wouldn't need to look very hard to find soemthing to criticse the WA lib government about. The sad thing is, the opposition are so inept, the libs will get re elected no matter what they do.

Agreed Wes....Ripper will never get elected as Premier.....he is a total wanker!!!

;)

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:32pm:

... wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:08pm: Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:06pm: Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;) You wouldn't need to look very hard to find soemthing to criticse the WA lib government about. The sad thing is, the opposition are so inept, the libs will get re elected no matter what they do. Agreed Wes....Ripper will never get elected as Premier.....he is a total wanker!!! ;)

you can have Keneally she will be looking for a job soon!

cods wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:31pm:

... wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:08pm: Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:06pm: Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;) You wouldn't need to look very hard to find soemthing to criticse the WA lib government about. The sad thing is, the opposition are so inept, the libs will get re elected no matter what they do. lol someone has been living under a rock and knows nothing of the fantastic 15 years of Labor in NSW

I care as much about NSW as you do about WA Cods.....Believe me when I tell you the Barnett Government is the second worst bunch of rabble this State has ever seen.....The Opposition lead by the Ripper are the worst.....We are told the State is booming and yet we are seeing more and more people struggling......The boom is not helping everyone!!!

>:(

cods wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:38pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:32pm: ... wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:08pm: Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:06pm: Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;) You wouldn't need to look very hard to find soemthing to criticse the WA lib government about. The sad thing is, the opposition are so inept, the libs will get re elected no matter what they do. Agreed Wes....Ripper will never get elected as Premier.....he is a total wanker!!! ;) you can have Keneally she will be looking for a job soon!

No thank you!!!

;)

cods wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:31pm:

... wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:08pm: Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 6:06pm: Phil - You do know that introducing a carbon tax will see it passed on to consumers and middle to lower income families paying EVEN MORE right? Just checking you think its a good idea to add even more onto the cost of living, because here you seem to be unhappy costs are increasing. Or could it be you went searching for something to criticise a Liberal state Government?  ;) You wouldn't need to look very hard to find soemthing to criticse the WA lib government about. The sad thing is, the opposition are so inept, the libs will get re elected no matter what they do. lol someone has been living under a rock and knows nothing of the fantastic 15 years of Labor in NSW

#####################

Nanna - the thread is discussing the power increases in  WA.  You know ,that big place to the west of Canberra that is now under a Liberal government.   If you are goiing to vomit your usual diatribe, do it in the right place.  

IMO, it should be ILLEGAL to disconnect an ESSENTIAL service simply
because someone can't pay the bill.

Their OBSCENE profits can certainly absorb most, if not all defaults.

And essential public utilities such as power and water should NEVER
be put into the money-grubbing hands of private enterprise.

EVER.

Kat wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 8:24pm:

IMO, it should be ILLEGAL to disconnect an ESSENTIAL service simply because someone can't pay the bill. Their OBSCENE profits can certainly absorb most, if not all defaults. And essential public utilities such as power and water should NEVER be put into the money-grubbing hands of private enterprise. EVER.

The argument is that the private sector can do it better and cheaper than Government.....the truth is once services and utilities are privatized.....profit becomes the motivator and the consumer pays.....Governments don’t have to do anything once all the silver is gone.....they can blame the private sector for the lack of delivery and reap the tax receipts without much work.....what do we hire these people for???

;)

phil, I wonder whether the WA power bill crisis has anything to do with the failings in the past of that disgraceful mob, Alinta.
Also I wonder whether it reflects the same sort of situation as in NSW, ie the sucking of money out of the power companies at the expense of maintenance and upgrading.

Logical solution......instead of whining and whinging philthperth.


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