Victorian Govt Offers Cash Incentive To Help Households Get Better Energy Deal
Every Victorian household will get a AU$50 (FJ$78.20) bonus for visiting an energy comparison website, in an election-year giveaway to encourage people to find better power deals. But the State Opposition accused the Andrews Government of trying to bribe voters by investing AU$48 million (FJ$75.07m) for the power-saving bonus in next month’s budget. Households will be eligible for the payment if they use the Energy Compare website between July and December, which shows consumers the best tariff for them based on their electricity and gas use.
People are not obliged to take up an offer or switch plans to be eligible for the AU$50 (FJ$78.20) bonus. Premier Daniel Andrews said a typical household had saved AU$330 (FJ$516.10) on their energy bills in the first year alone by using the website.
“So many of our energy retailers bank on consumers not having the time or the know-how to shop around and get a better deal. We’re putting an end to that,” he said.
More than 700,000 people have visited the site in the past three years, with seven out of 10 people saving money by switching retail offers. Government modelling suggests one million Victorian households will take up the offer of a bonus, but Mr Andrews insisted he was not concerned about the financial impact of being forced to spend more.
“If this is over-subscribed, that would be fantastic. That would be a great outcome,” he said.
“I want every household to be on the best energy deal they could possibly be on.” But Opposition spokesperson David Southwick said the AU$50 (FJ$78.20) bonus would do little to offset rising household power bills, following the closure of the Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley.
“Today’s announcement by Daniel Andrews is nothing more than an election bribe, attempting to win over voters who are paying for more than they ever have for power under his government,” he said.