One Big Switch Seeks 20,000 Switchers

Queensland’s Channel 7, Courier-Mail and Sunday-Mail have launched a people-power campaign to help Queenslanders get a better deal on energy bills.
“The Big Queensland Electricity Switch” is the brainchild of consumer network One Big Switch and the campaign aims to fight back against the large power price increases of over 20% that were recently announced.

One Big Switch director of campaigns, Christopher Zinn, said that when consumers unite, they can help drive down prices. The campaign aims to sign up 20,000 people in a month.
The announced price hikes will see a family of four pay an estimated average of $343 per year extra for electricity on the regulated tariff.
From July 1, a typical Queensland household’s power bill will rise 22.6% from $1184 to $1451. About 30% of energy users in the south-east and almost all regional residents pay the regulated tariff. However, the regulated tariff increase is expected to flow on to those on market rates too.
One Big Switch is based on the idea that a group of people has more negotiating power over essential household services than an individual, said Zinn. A similar campaign by One Big Switch last year saved Queenslanders 12% in a deal with Energy Australia.

June 28, 2013