Find out how this Aussie dad managed to save over $1,000 on his baffling Origin Energy Bill

We all know how crucial managing finances and keeping costs down can be – especially as the cost of living continues to rise. That's why we at the Seniors Discount Club keep an eye out for tips, tricks, and stories that can help save you money.

So, when we came across the tale of a Sydney father and his experience with an eye-watering energy bill, we knew we had to share it with you.



The young dad, who is living with his wife and their 14-month-old child, was left ‘baffled’ when their household received an invoice for their December 30 to May 10 billing cycle from Origin Energy.

‘We were shocked to see that our provider had calculated that we owed $1,384.13,’ the anonymous resident posted on the social media forum Reddit.

‘We use gas for our stove and hot water. We were baffled. We have only just moved in, and neither of us had paid a gas bill before.’


energy1.jpg
The dad was surprised to see their household’s energy bill. Credit: Joy Singh/Pexels

But instead of blindly paying the bill, the father decided to investigate further.

He noticed that the charge on the bill was just an estimation, not an actual meter reading. So, he checked the meter himself and discovered that the reading was entirely different from what was stated on the bill.



‘The meter did not even remotely match what was stated on the bill,’ he said.

‘Check your bill to see how they indicate an estimated bill or actual bill. I submitted my meter read to our provider and received a new bill today indicating we actually owed only $271.19.’

However, the saga didn't end there. The man told reporters that he received yet another bill on Thursday for $1,420.48.


energy2.jpg
The dad submitted their meter reading to their provider. Credit: Wilson Vitorino/Pexels

‘I have had to contact them once again to reissue a bill based on actual readings,’ he shared, adding that he had managed to have the bill reduced again – this time, to a more reasonable $296.54.

‘No explanation why they have tried to overcharge me again,’ he continued.



The man has also been sharing his experience with other internet users.

‘With the cost of living going through the roof, surely there is a way to ensure ... that customers aren’t charged 510 per cent of what they use,’ he wrote in his post.

‘An apology (at the very least) would have been nice.’

Customers with natural gas connections are billed by their energy retailers based on physical gas meter readings taken by the local gas network company.

However, if meter readers cannot access the meter on the premises, the energy provider (in this case, Origin) will use an estimation based on the property's historical usage.

That’s where many residents can inadvertently be overcharged.



A spokesperson for Origin Energy told reporters that customers should ‘provide safe and easy access for meter readers’ to avoid estimated bills.

They also advised customers to clear any hindrances like locked gates, unrestrained pets, or overgrown plants that might deter meter readers from accessing and accurately recording energy consumption.

However, the dad stated that there was nothing noticeable that was hindering meter access.

‘Our meter is at the front of our home. About 3m from the front boundary. No fence, no dog.’

Now, the Sydney father is raising awareness of his experience and urging others to scrutinise their bills for discrepancies.

Don't be afraid to speak up if something doesn't feel right. In this father's case, his persistence and diligence in resolving the matter saved his family over $1,000.

Remember that many providers, like Origin Energy, have online guides on how to conduct a self-meter reading. This simple action could save you from a potential financial headache and ensure that you're not being overcharged.



Keep an eye on your bills, stay persistent, and be sure to share any tips or stories you have with us here at the Seniors Discount Club.
Key Takeaways
  • A Sydney father was baffled after receiving an eye-watering charge on his energy bill and managed to save over $1,000 by checking the meter.
  • A closer inspection of the bill revealed that the charge was based on an estimation, and the actual meter reading was significantly lower.
  • Customers with natural gas connections are billed based on physical gas meter readings taken by the local gas network company; however, if the meter reader cannot access the meter, an estimate is provided.
  • Origin Energy urges customers to provide safe and easy access for meter readers to avoid getting a bill based on estimated usage.
Have you recently been hit by a surprisingly high bill, members? How did you resolve it? Let us know in the comments!
 
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Smart meters are not failsafe. Nor are they safe to be near for the EMFs they emit. You should have access to your meter. Request a key from distributor or landlord. Also, sleep as far away from your meter as possible.
You will be pleased to know aluminium foil is on sale at Coles this week. Where are you pulling this from? Based on what actual evidence. Not gas supplier would be likely to supply something that could potentially result in a gas explosion that would result in their liability.
 
Never arrange , electric , or phone companies makes it too easy for them to gouge your money.
 
We have gas for cooking only and I do cook a lot . We are not with any company and bought our own 2 gasbottles of 9 kg. The ones you use for your gas barbie . Ours are from the motorhome . We moved into our new house on May 31 2022 and fitted the 1st gasbottle and it was only empty early June 2023. We refilled it last Wednesday at BCF and it costs us $24.-.Our hot water is electric on solar . Do not pay energy bills at all. So far , we are laughing . (y) 😀
 
You will be pleased to know aluminium foil is on sale at Coles this week. Where are you pulling this from? Based on what actual evidence. Not gas supplier would be likely to supply something that could potentially result in a gas explosion that would result in their liability.
 
You will be pleased to know aluminium foil is on sale at Coles this week. Where are you pulling this from? Based on what actual evidence. Not gas supplier would be likely to supply something that could potentially result in a gas explosion that would result in their liability.
Thanks for the heads up on the foil sale, it was big of you to briefly pull your head out of the sand to let me know. Can't wait to try on my new hat! Have a great day.
 
We all know how crucial managing finances and keeping costs down can be – especially as the cost of living continues to rise. That's why we at the Seniors Discount Club keep an eye out for tips, tricks, and stories that can help save you money.

So, when we came across the tale of a Sydney father and his experience with an eye-watering energy bill, we knew we had to share it with you.



The young dad, who is living with his wife and their 14-month-old child, was left ‘baffled’ when their household received an invoice for their December 30 to May 10 billing cycle from Origin Energy.

‘We were shocked to see that our provider had calculated that we owed $1,384.13,’ the anonymous resident posted on the social media forum Reddit.

‘We use gas for our stove and hot water. We were baffled. We have only just moved in, and neither of us had paid a gas bill before.’


View attachment 21464
The dad was surprised to see their household’s energy bill. Credit: Joy Singh/Pexels

But instead of blindly paying the bill, the father decided to investigate further.

He noticed that the charge on the bill was just an estimation, not an actual meter reading. So, he checked the meter himself and discovered that the reading was entirely different from what was stated on the bill.



‘The meter did not even remotely match what was stated on the bill,’ he said.

‘Check your bill to see how they indicate an estimated bill or actual bill. I submitted my meter read to our provider and received a new bill today indicating we actually owed only $271.19.’

However, the saga didn't end there. The man told reporters that he received yet another bill on Thursday for $1,420.48.


View attachment 21466
The dad submitted their meter reading to their provider. Credit: Wilson Vitorino/Pexels

‘I have had to contact them once again to reissue a bill based on actual readings,’ he shared, adding that he had managed to have the bill reduced again – this time, to a more reasonable $296.54.

‘No explanation why they have tried to overcharge me again,’ he continued.



The man has also been sharing his experience with other internet users.

‘With the cost of living going through the roof, surely there is a way to ensure ... that customers aren’t charged 510 per cent of what they use,’ he wrote in his post.

‘An apology (at the very least) would have been nice.’

Customers with natural gas connections are billed by their energy retailers based on physical gas meter readings taken by the local gas network company.

However, if meter readers cannot access the meter on the premises, the energy provider (in this case, Origin) will use an estimation based on the property's historical usage.

That’s where many residents can inadvertently be overcharged.



A spokesperson for Origin Energy told reporters that customers should ‘provide safe and easy access for meter readers’ to avoid estimated bills.

They also advised customers to clear any hindrances like locked gates, unrestrained pets, or overgrown plants that might deter meter readers from accessing and accurately recording energy consumption.

However, the dad stated that there was nothing noticeable that was hindering meter access.

‘Our meter is at the front of our home. About 3m from the front boundary. No fence, no dog.’

Now, the Sydney father is raising awareness of his experience and urging others to scrutinise their bills for discrepancies.

Don't be afraid to speak up if something doesn't feel right. In this father's case, his persistence and diligence in resolving the matter saved his family over $1,000.

Remember that many providers, like Origin Energy, have online guides on how to conduct a self-meter reading. This simple action could save you from a potential financial headache and ensure that you're not being overcharged.



Keep an eye on your bills, stay persistent, and be sure to share any tips or stories you have with us here at the Seniors Discount Club.
Key Takeaways

  • A Sydney father was baffled after receiving an eye-watering charge on his energy bill and managed to save over $1,000 by checking the meter.
  • A closer inspection of the bill revealed that the charge was based on an estimation, and the actual meter reading was significantly lower.
  • Customers with natural gas connections are billed based on physical gas meter readings taken by the local gas network company; however, if the meter reader cannot access the meter, an estimate is provided.
  • Origin Energy urges customers to provide safe and easy access for meter readers to avoid getting a bill based on estimated usage.
Have you recently been hit by a surprisingly high bill, members? How did you resolve it? Let us know in the comments!
I quiered a bill from Energy Australia recently and was told by the online chat idiot that the bill stands as I have a smart meter that can't be wrong, but it wasn't so smart. I had the figures from their website of what I used. I tried to tell this idiot that the reading was exactly twice what I had used according to their site and that the info must have been sent twice, but again was told they won't change the bill. Low and behold later that evening I got a call to say there had been a mistake and a new account would be sent. I gave them the operator's name and told them I wasn't impressed in her attitude.
 
I highly recommend to use grouply.co website to compare energy plans - spend year to developed database, without such tool it requires PhD level of knowledge to compare any given electricity or gas plans. It is escapes me my Vic has the most expensive energy prices in the world. What you need to bring - a daily electricity usage (kWh) and/or daily gas consumption (MJ).
 

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