Energy Australia online billing platform is munted? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 03:38:41 am
content: Not sure if anyone else has had similar issues, but it seems Energy Australia's online billing platform has some serious issues.Last month, I got my regular quarterly bill (via e-mail) for my electricity account. It was as expected, no problems.A few days ago, I got three separate e-mails in the space of a minute stating:E-mail 1: Account $1193.90 in credit - Payment not requiredE-mail 2: Total amount due $4.50E-mail 3: Account $363.24 in credit - Payment not requiredAll e-mails originate from the official Energy Australia e-mail address and all links point to the legitimate website so it's not a phishing attempt.I logged into the actual account portal on their website and it has the original figure from last months e-mail, but then if I click "view bill" it says I only owe $4.50.Has anyone had similar issues? It's obvious that it's an error in the system somewhere but what to believe? I'm not one to just pay bills willy-nilly without checking them for accuracy first.

author: MarkS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 04:20:44 am
content: You pay your electric bill quarterly?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 04:23:59 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on March 05, 2017, 04:19:10 amVery good advice and one I share with my friends. I personally have at the bare minimum one month worth of pay in "reserves" in my account at all times. Things happen, mistakes are made and sometimes I'll forget there are five mortgage repayments in certain months as opposed to the usual four. A cash buffer is very important.I'll have to call Energy Australia tomorrow as I can no longer view the "correct" bill I got last week. All links point to the (clearly) erroneous version.Quote from: MarkS on March 05, 2017, 04:20:44 amThat's the only option I have if I want actual meter readings and pay for what I consume/export. I can opt for monthly billing based on average usage but it's all just estimates. Someone still physically comes around to check the actual readings here even though it's a brand new house. Same with gas, a bloke with a PDA/tablet comes to check the little numbers on the analog dial on the gas meter (no power at all runs to that).

author: MarkS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 04:42:36 am
content: Most U.S. utility companies have converted to smart meters which transmit actual usage data in real time. If I ever got hit with a $1200 electric bill, I'd have a a heart attack!

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 04:46:16 am
content: Quote from: MarkS on March 05, 2017, 04:42:36 amSome areas in Australia use smart metres. Probably inner city?Likewise, my quarterly bill is about AUD$500 on the expensive side. I do run a lot of computer gear 24/7 and practically live with ducted AC on. That said, it would be more expensive if it wasn't for the 4.7KW PVA on my roof.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2017, 11:13:36 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on March 05, 2017, 04:19:10 amIBM, the company who brought you the census debacle, is the first problem.Second one is Energy Australia is owned by a Hong Kong company (majority owned by China), sold off by the NSW government.Based upon the above two factors, it might be time to find another electricity retailer.In my opinion, none of our vital utilities should be owned by private enterprise, let alone foreigners, but should be Australian government owned - by the people for the people.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2017, 05:13:23 pm
content: Do like Jamie Mantzel and run to a mountian in Vermont to build a giant robot.Afterwards you can move to a lone island in Panama, build 5 Catamarans, the foundations for a castle, and a wharf made of giant dirt cubes from the ocean floor you've picked up like a real life Minecraft.All while using only solar power and if needed temporary gas generators.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2017, 10:43:47 am
content: I have a friend in Melbourne who is sort of independent of the electricity companies. He has 48 relatively efficient solar panels on his roof and the latest commercially available batteries. He is only connected to an electricity company as a backup, but uses no electricity from them, even in winter. For just being connected, he pays about $300 per year. He could buy a generator as a backup and truly be free of the electricity companies. State-of-the-art, his set up cost about $50K.But if solar got cheap and efficient enough, and batteries dropped enough in cost, most of us could all give electricity companies the flick. Problem is the government would no doubt impose a hefty solar tax. The reason is subsidies to the electricity companies in lieu of massive price rises for those who don't have solar like those who live in flats. And also tax revenue in lieu of on-going electricity sales.In any case, they is no law in Victoria preventing some bozo developer building a two story house or block of flats next door to my friend's house, wiping out his solar investment by shadowing the sun.