Energy savings add up for small business

Small business may be Australia’s biggest and fastest growing sector, but running a small business is still hard.

Wages, rent, overheads; it’s becoming increasingly important in small business to save money, but harder and harder to find places where you can. Luckily, there’s an easy way of reducing your small business overheads, and all you have to do is spend a few minutes online. Read More…

Moving house? Get cheaper electricity and save money

Moving house has always been about boxes and back-breaking labour. But thanks to some simple, clever online innovations, it’s now also an opportunity to save money.

For many people, moving house is a chance to go through the clutter and to clean out the mess at home. The same is now true for the household bills. Connecting essential services such as electricity and gas at your new home is now a chance to get rid of the clutter and to score yourself a better deal.

Online comparison websites, such as the popular goswitch.com.au, give consumers the opportunity to look at all the plans and suppliers available to them when connecting electricity and gas in a new home, rather than simply signing up to a provider’s default plan. Read More…

Australian electricity is Smarter electricity

The way we use electricity in our homes is about to change.

Major improvements being made to the network by the government and by electricity suppliers in Australia will revolutionise the way power is supplied to us, the measuring of our usage and even the way we pay.

It’s called the ‘Smart Grid’, and it’s all about the way the electricity is managed, replacing a system that has been in place for a century.

It starts at your house. In a world-first, new meter boxes are being installed to homes, around 10 million in total (at a cost of up to $4.6 billion). These boxes act as processing units that will control the way our homes are provided with electricity. Read More…

92% of Aussies more concerned about energy costs in 2009

One in two worried about affording electricity and gas this winter

One in two Australians are worried about being able to afford their electricity and gas bills this winter, in a sign that the current economic conditions are causing consumers to worry about affording essential services. The national survey conducted by energy price comparison website www.GoSwitch.com.au showed that women (58%) are more concerned than men (40%). Read More…

GoSwitch Winter Poll Summary of Key Results

• Half of all Australian consumers  are worried about being able to afford their energy bills this winter (51%)
• Women are more concerned than men about being able to afford their winter energy bills (58% versus 40%)
• 18-24 years are the most concerned age group (56%) while 55-64 year olds are the least concerned (43%)
• SA is the most concerned State (55%) and ACT is the least concerned (36%)
• 92% of people are more concerned about energy costs than they were 12 months ago
• 62% of people use heating as little as possible due to energy costs, up from 54% in 2008
• SA is the state most likely to use heating as little as possible due to energy costs (68%). ACT (55%) is least likely.
• 55- 64 year olds are the most likely to never hesitate to switch on the heating
• ACT (36%) and Victoria (35%) are the two states most likely to never hesitate to switch on the heating. NSW (23%) and QLD (23%) are the most likely to hesitate to switch on their heater over winter
• 65 plus age group is the most likely to use heating as little as possible due to energy costs (68%)
• The most popular method for reducing household energy use and costs is simply using more blankets or clothing to stay warm (79% of respondents), followed closely by using energy efficient light bulbs (78%). 73% of people only heat the rooms they are using.
  • 18-24 year olds are the least likely to use energy efficient light bulbs (63%) and also least likely to use more blankets or clothing to stay warm (73%)
  • 65 plus age group most likely to install solar panels (11%)
  • NT most likely to use energy efficient light bulbs (94%), WA least likely (71%)
  • Victoria most likely to compare energy plans and switch to a better deal (34%)
  • NT (19%) and WA (13%) most likely to install solar panels
  • SA (87%) most likely to only heat rooms they are using. NT (44%) and ACT (45%) least likely to do so.

• Despite the Government incentives, only 9% of people have installed a solar panel to reduce their energy usage and costs
• 23% of people have compared energy plans and switched to a better deal to save on their winter energy usage and costs.

Interesting choices at GoSwitch.com.au

A CURRENT AFFAIR:

“There are some interesting choices at GoSwitch.com.au. Not only can you compare prices on gas and electricity, but you can choose to have green electricity.”
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Household bills - how do we slash the costs?

MORNINGS WITH KERRI-ANNE:

Household bills- how do we slash the costs? Shop around for a better deal with www.goswitch.com.au
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Customers only choose a more environmentally friendly option if saving

NEWS.COM.AU:

“…The vast majority [of energy customers] will only choose a more environmentally friendly option if it means they are still saving money off their regular bill,” said GoSwitch chief executive Ben Freund.
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Emissions trading scheme in 2010 could double electircity bill

RAINE & HORNE REAL ESTATE:

GoSwitch  believes the introduction of an emissions trading scheme in 2010 could result in the average annual household electricity bill jumping 55 per cent…
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Electricity Rate Rises between 5.3 per cent and 9.8

MOORABOOL LEADER:

Rises of between 5.3 per cent and 9.8 per cent have been announced already by [electricity] retailers and can be checked on price comparison websites such as GoSwitch.
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