Why are prices increasing?
The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) determined in June 2012 that ActewAGL’s electricity retail prices for 2012-13 may be increased on average by 17.74% (CPI plus 13.88%). ActewAGL calculates individual tariffs to comply with this decision. The main reasons for this price increase are the introduction of a price on carbon and higher network charges.
For more information on the carbon price visit cleanenergyfuture.gov.au
Who will be affected by the price increase?
The price increase applies to all ActewAGL customers who are supplied with electricity under our ACT standard retail contract as per the relevant schedule of charges.
How much extra will I have to pay?
Electricity charges
Always Home@ActewAGL plan
An average Always Home@ActewAGL plan customer who uses 7,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per annum will pay an extra $249.89 per annum (including GST) which is an increase of 18.2% (CPI plus 14.3%) in their electricity bill.
Always Home@ActewAGL Saver plan
An average Always Home@ActewAGL Saver plan customer who uses 10,000 kWh per annum will pay an extra $341.64 per annum (including GST) which is an increase of 19.1% (CPI plus 15.2%) in their electricity bill.
Always Home@ActewAGL Saver Plus plan
An average Always Home@ActewAGL Saver Plus plan customer who uses 18,000 kWh per annum will pay an extra $587.35 per annum (including GST) which is an increase of 20.5% (CPI plus 16.6%) in their electricity bill.
Always Home@ActewAGL SmartSaver plan
An average Always Home@ActewAGL SmartSaver plan customer who uses 4,000 kWh per annum and has an average load profile will pay $160.72 more per annum (including GST) which is an increase of 19.1% (CPI plus 15.2%) in their electricity bill.
Business plan
A Business plan customer who uses 30,000 kWh per annum will receive an average increase of 14.8% (CPI plus 11.1%) in their electricity bill.
Business Incentive plan
A Business Incentive plan customer who uses 30,000 kWh per annum and has an average load profile will receive an average increase of 17.1% (CPI plus 13.2%) in their annual electricity bill.
How has ActewAGL calculated this price increase for 2012/13?
Retail electricity prices are based on the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission’s (ICRC) Determination of 2012-13 Retail Prices for Non-contestable Electricity Customers. This limits the average increase in franchise prices in 2012-13 to 17.74%.
The decision passed through the increase in network charges as published by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on 1 June 2012 which were increased in accordance with the five-year price path, covering the years 2009–10 to 2013–14. Network charges include the charges that ActewAGL Retail pays the distributor in order to supply electricity to your premises.
What is the AlwaysHome@ActewAGL SmartSaver plan?
All new and replacement meters installed in ACT residences since March 2007 are recording consumption at Peak, Shoulder and Residential Off-peak times. Peak times are 7.00am to 9.00am and 5.00pm to 8.00pm daily, Shoulder times are 9.00am to 5.00pm and 8.00pm to 10.00pm daily and Residential Off-peak times are all other times. These are Australian Eastern Standard Times and are not adjusted for Daylight Saving.
The Always Home@ActewAGL SmartSaver plan offers customers with these meters different energy rates for these times. If a residential consumer with a load of 7,000 kWh moves to this tariff and has an average mix of Peak, Shoulder and Residential Off-peak energy, their bill would be about 3.2% cheaper than the standard Always Home@ActewAGL plan. If they are able to shift load from Peak times to Shoulder and Residential Off-peak times, they can further reduce their energy bills. For example, the cost of electricity to run washing machines and dishwashers at Residential Off-peak times is 44% lower than the cost of energy to run them in Peak times.
Can I have off-peak hot water on the Always Home@ActewAGL SmartSaver plan?
Yes, customers on the Always Home@ActewAGL SmartSaver plan have the option of the Off-Peak Saver Electricity plan and/or the Off-Peak 1 Electricity plan.
How can I get a new meter to enable me to use the Always Home@ActewAGL SmartSaver plan?
If a customer does not already have an interval meter installed, they can request a new meter (at the cost of $69.30 GST Inclusive) at our ActewAGL Home Connect Stores or by calling 13 14 93. Once the new meter has been installed consumers can call us on 13 14 93 to request the Always Home@ActewAGL SmartSaver plan.
Will my energy concession/health care rebate increase accordingly?
The ACT Government has determined an increase in the energy concession and health care rebates from 1 July 2012. The new annual maximum is now $374.82 (GST exclusive). This equates to a daily rate of:
- Winter daily rate will be $1.779258 (GST exclusive)
- Summer daily rate will be $0.483845 (GST exclusive)
Life support rebates have increased.
- Electricity daily rate will be $0.330000 to a maximum of $120.45 (GST exclusive)
Rebates will appear on your electricity invoice as a separate line item under the heading of “other amounts”.
What input does the customer have in determining ActewAGL’s electricity charges?
On 23 December 2011, the ICRC released its Issues Paper on ActewAGL’s retail prices for non-contestable electricity customers in the ACT for 2012-2014. On 5 April 2012 the ICRC released its Draft Report for public comment, which was based on the content of the Issues Paper, and provided an opportunity for members of the public to have their say on ActewAGL’s electricity prices for 2010- 11 and 2012-13.
On Friday, 10 May 2012 the Commission advertised that it would hold a public hearing on the Draft Report. However, due to insufficient stakeholder interest, the public hearing was not held.
Taking into account the comments received, the ICRC prepared its Final Decision and Price Direction - Retail Prices for Non-contestable Electricity Customers, which was released on 8 June 2012.
Who determines these new charges?
ActewAGL’s electricity charges for customers on the standard retail contract in the ACT are regulated by the ICRC. ActewAGL sets prices for each of its supply charges based on the ICRC’s determination for 2012-13.
Where can I view all changes and when?
ActewAGL’s ACT standard retail electricity supply schedule of charges effective from 1 July 2012 were published in the Canberra Times on 30 June 2012.
Pamphlets of the schedule of charges are available from ActewAGL shopfront and offices from mid July or by calling 13 14 93.
How do the electricity tariff increases, effective 1 July 2012 apply to Greenchoice customers?
The total price Greenchoice customers pay is the sum of the retail rate for standard electricity plus the Greenchoice premium for accredited GreenPower. While the retail rate for standard electricity increased as a result the introduction of a price on carbon and higher network charges, there has been no increase in the Greenchoice premium.
Why are prices increasing?
ActewAGL has increased its natural gas retail prices in the ACT by 11.82% on average due to the introduction of a price on carbon, higher network charges and changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Network charges include the charges that ActewAGL Retail pays to the distributor in order to supply natural gas to your premises.
For NSW prices, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has allowed ActewAGL to increase its natural gas retail prices by 14.89, 11.87 and 9.32% on average in the Capital, Queanbeyan/Bungendore and Shoalhaven regions respectively, mainly due to the introduction of a price on carbon and higher network charges. These increases are in line with the Voluntary Transitional Pricing Arrangement (VTPA) that applies to ActewAGL's NSW natural gas customers between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2013.
For more information on the carbon price visit cleanenergyfuture.gov.au
Who will be affected by the price increase?
The price increase applies to all ActewAGL customers who are supplied under our ACT standard retail contract or NSW standard customer supply contract for natural gas as per the relevant schedule of charges.
The price increase also applies to all ActewAGL customers supplied under a market retail contract for natural gas, including customers on 'Bundle' or 'Energy Rewards' contracts. These customers will receive a letter notifying them of the price increase.
How much extra will I have to pay?
For ACT customers:
The increase is approximately an additional $2.96 (GST inclusive) per week for an average ACT customer who uses 50 GJ per annum on the Always Home @ActewAGL Saver natural gas plan.
For NSW customers:
For customers in the Queanbeyan and Bungendore region, the increase is approximately an additional $2.49 (GST inclusive) per week for a typical residential customer who uses 47 GJ per annum on the Always Home @ActewAGL Saver natural gas plan.
For Capital Region customers, the increase is approximately an additional $2.74 (GST inclusive) per week for a typical residential customer who uses 40 GJ per annum on the Always Home @ActewAGL Saver natural gas plan.
For Nowra (Shoalhaven) customers, the increase is approximately an additional $0.92 (GST inclusive) per week for a typical residential customer who uses 17 GJ per annum on the Always Home @ActewAGL Economy natural gas plan.
Will my energy concession/health care rebate increase accordingly?
The ACT Government has determined an increase in the energy concession and health care rebates from 1 July 2012. The new annual maximum is now $374.82 (GST exclusive). This equates to a daily rate of:
- Winter daily rate will be $1.779258 (GST exclusive)
- Summer daily rate will be $0.483845 (GST exclusive)
Life support rebates have increased.
- Electricity daily rate will be $0.330000 to a maximum of $120.45 (GST exclusive)
Rebates will appear on your electricity invoice as a separate line item under the heading of “other amounts”.
Who determines these new charges?
In the ACT, retail natural gas pricing is not regulated, and ActewAGL reviews its charges from time-to-time to ensure it recovers the costs of supplying natural gas to customers.
For NSW prices, ActewAGL and the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) agreed upon a Voluntary Transitional Pricing Arrangement (VTPA) to apply to ActewAGL gas customers in NSW from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2013.
Where can I view all charges and when?
ActewAGL's ACT retail natural gas tariffs effective from 1 July 2012 were published in The Canberra Times on 30 June 2012.
ActewAGL NSW gas retail tariffs effective from 1 July 2012 were published in:
- The Boorowa News on 28 June 2012
- The Goulburn Post on 29 June 2012
- Yass Tribune on 27 June 2012
- The Young Witness on 29 June 2012
- Queanbeyan Age on 29 June 2012
- Nowra South Coast Register on 27 June 2012
- Bungendore Mirror on 27 June 2012.
Pamphlets of the schedule of charges will be available from ActewAGL shopfront and offices from mid-July or by calling 13 18 86.