A significant number of Australians eligible for power bill discounts through concession cards are not receiving them due to the complexity of the current system. The government is proposing changes to make it easier for eligible individuals to access these discounts, putting the onus on energy retailers to proactively apply them instead of requiring customers to request them.
There are concerns concessions and discounts are not being taken up because those eligible are required to ask their power company to apply them.Six in ten Australians eligible for discounts on their power bills are missing out, prompting moves to force power companies to apply the discounts.
Others might tell their retailer to apply the discounts initially but lose the discount when they change retailers. Research from the Melbourne Institute and Roy Morgan found as many as two-thirds of concession card holders were not aware of the discounts they were eligible for. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the current system was seeing too many people paying more than they should."That's why we want retailers to be proactive in delivering the cheapest possible bills through the right plans and the right concession discounts, for every one of their customers."Actually making that change might be somewhat complicated, given the way both energy retailers and the social services system work.
Retailers would also be required to contact their existing customers with the same question, to try and capture those currently missing out.
POWER BILL DISCOUNTS CONCESSION CARDS ENERGY RETAILERS GOVERNMENT REFORM CONSUMER ADVOCATES
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