Compare Energy Plans Online

Transcription

1 Compare energy plans online Get cheaper electricity and gas Easy English April 2015

2 Compare energy plans You might be able to get a cheaper energy plan. Energy is your electricity and gas. You could save money. www There are 2 government websites to help you choose the best energy retailer. One website is for electricity One website is for gas. The websites are run by the government, not the energy retailer. You can ask someone to help you use the websites. For example, a friend a family member a support worker. Page 2

3 What you need an electricity or gas bill. The bill must not be more than 12 months old a computer with the internet a phone pen and paper your Centrelink Reference Number, if you have one your current energy contract.

4 How to compare electricity plans You will need an electricity bill. The bill must not be more than 12 months old. Follow these 11 steps. 1. Go to the My Power Planner website mpp.switchon.vic.gov.au 2. Click the red button in the middle of the video picture. Watch the video. The video tells you how the website works. Page 4

5 3. Click on Get Started 4. Read the terms and conditions. Look for the words I have read and agree to the terms and conditions. Click on the box next to the words. Click Next. Page 5

6 5. Choose 1 option. Option A Use your bill to answer questions or Option B You have a smart meter. You use your smart meter information. Option A is easier. Click on Option A. Page 6

7 6. Answer the questions about where you live how you use electricity. For example, Do you have an electric cook top? Do you have a swimming pool? Click Next. 7. Put in your electricity bill details. Click Next. Page 7

8 8. You will see your power profile. Your power profile shows you when you use electricity. 9. Click Next. Page 8

9 10. You can now see all the electricity plans. You can see the type of electricity plan cost per year rules of the electricity plan. The cheapest electricity plans will be at the top. Page 9

10 11. Click on the electricity plan name. Read more information. If you have any problems with the My Power Planner website Call Page 10

11 How to compare gas plans You will need a gas bill. The bill must not be more than 12 months old. Follow these 7 steps. 1. Go to the Your Choice website. yourchoice.vic.gov.au 2. Click on Search Gas Offers. Page 11

12 3. Put in your post code. 4. Click on My Use. Page 12

13 5. Put in the information from your gas bill. 6. Click Compare Offers. Page 13

14 7. Now you can see all the gas plans. You can see the rules of the gas plan how long the gas plan will go for the cost. The cheapest gas plans will be at the top. Click on the blue i for more information. The blue i is next to the name of each gas plan. Page 14

15 Check the terms and conditions Terms and conditions are the rules of your energy contract. Make sure you read the rules and understand the rules. You can call the energy retailer to ask more questions. Page 15

16 Terms and conditions - Questions to ask Am I locked in to the contract? Locked in means you are in the contract for a set time. This is sometimes called fixed term or fixed contract. You will have to keep paying the energy retailer until the end of the contract. For example, your contract is for 12 months. If you want to change to another energy retailer in this time you might have to pay to leave the contract early. Can the energy retailer increase the price? Some energy retailers will increase the price of the energy. This means you will pay more. Some contracts say notice of price change. For example, Notice of price change - 10 days. This means your retailer must tell you 10 days before they change the price. Page 16

17 How will I get my bill? Your bill might come by mail . Sometimes you can choose. When you do not have a computer, ask for your bill to come by mail. How do I pay my bill? Some plans have rules about how you can pay. Different ways to pay are called payment options. You can ask What are my payment options? Can I get a discount? Sometimes you can get a discount. For example, you might get a discount if you pay your bill on time you have a concession card. Page 17

18 Is it a flexible pricing plan? Victoria has flexible electricity pricing. This means you pay different prices to use electricity at different times of the day on different days. For example, you might pay less on the weekend. Flexible pricing could save you money. Read more about flexible pricing in the booklet called Flexible electricity pricing. Page 18

19 You can get this booklet online at Is it a dual fuel plan? A dual fuel plan means you have the same plan for electricity and gas. This means you pay your electricity bill and your gas bill to the same energy retailer. Page 19

20 Switch to a new plan If you find a good plan for gas or electricity Write down the name of the energy retailer the name of the energy plan the cost of the gas or electricity. To change to a new energy retailer call the new energy retailer tell them the name of the energy plan ask to change to the new energy plan. You can make a new contract on the phone. Remember check the rules of the new contract tell the energy retailer if you have a concession card. Page 20

21 After you start a new contract You get a cooling off period. This means you can change your mind and you do not have to pay to leave the contract. The cooling off period is 10 days. If you change your mind in the cooling off period, you need to call the company to cancel the contract. You do not have to do anything else. Page 21

22 Scope s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre wrote the Easy English. April To see the original contact the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre. The Picture Communication Symbols by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Used with permission. Boardmaker is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC. Valuing People ClipArt Inspired Services, UK. Change pictures