3.5 million NSW residents could be paying ‘lazy tax’ of at least $100 on energy bills

New South Wales locals are overestimating the potential savings from new default energy offers introduced on 1 July 2019, new research released today by energy experts iSelecthas revealed. [1]

A new Default Market Offer (DMO) has been introduced in New South Wales on 1 July 2019. The new DMO will now replace standing offers and are designed to protect customers who chose not to shop around.

The YouGov Galaxy Research study commissioned by iSelect found that over a quarter of NSW residents (27% or 1.6 million) believe the DMO will make their bills cheaper, when in fact it is only likely to reduce bills for the minority of NSW residents who were on the more expensive standing offers.

The research also found that 42 per cent of NSW residents believed they were currently on a standing offer. In reality, only around 15 per cent of NSW customers were currently on standing offers.[2] These customers have been automatically transferred to the new DMO from 1 July and are expected to see annual savings of around $129 to $181 a year, depending on their distribution zone.

Laura Crowden, spokesperson for iSelect Energy, said that the new DMO won’t reduce bills for the majority of NSW customers who are already on market offers.

“NSW residents shouldn’t simply ‘default to the default’. Shopping around for the market offer most suited to your household’s needs is still the best way to save on your energy bills,” Laura said.

“Both the Australian Energy Regulator and the Australian Energy Council have confirmed that market offers will almost always be cheaper and that customers who remain on default offers will likely be paying more.”[3]

The YouGov Galaxy research also suggested that 3.5 million NSW residents could be paying a ‘lazy tax’ when it comes their energy bills. A third of respondents suspect they ‘could probably find a better deal’, with further 25% not sure whether or not they are paying more than they need to.

“Only 43 per cent of respondents are confident they are currently getting a good deal on their energy which means over half of NSW residents are at risk of paying a ‘lazy tax’ on their energy simply because they haven’t bothered to compare their options.”

Laura said this was backed up by a survey of iSelect customers who had recently switched energy providers or plans. Three-quarters (77%) of customers said they had or were expecting to save, with 57% estimating a saving of more than $100 a year, including 21% expecting to save more than $300 .[4]

The YouGov Galaxy research also revealed significant confusion among NSW customers about the different types of energy offers, with a third (32%) admitting they don’t know what kind of offer they are on.

There are two main types of energy offers – the new default offers and market offers, which include the heavily discounted rates advertised on TV.

Laura said NSW customers need to be aware that many market offers include discounts that are conditional and most expire after a year or two, after which time customers may be automatically rolled over on to a higher-priced plan.

“Almost half (47%) of NSW customers admitted they hadn’t switched their energy plan for over two years, and many of these customers are likely paying too much. Retailers are now required to notify you when your discount period expires, and this should be your prompt to shop around.”

Laura said 28 per cent of NSW survey respondents admitted to having being caught out by conditional discounts such as having to pay on time, with over 60 per cent of those caught out having been stung an extra $50 or more.

“We weren’t surprised to learn that over half of NSW residents think comparing energy plans is ‘confusing’. That’s where iSelect can help. Our highly-trained energy experts can do the hard work for you to help you select a suitable plan from our range of providers.”[5]

iSelect’s top 5 tips for finding a good value energy deal 1. Don’t default to the default – Market offers will still almost always be cheaper than the new default offers and shopping around is still the best way to reduce your energy bills. 2. Don’t set & forget – Retailers are now required to notify you when your rate changes or your discount expires. This should prompt you to compare plans to ensure you’re getting a good deal. 3. Flexible payment options – To avoid bill shock you can opt to pay your bills weekly, fortnightly or monthly, or sign up for bill smoothing, which divides your annual usage into monthly instalments. 4. Don’t be distracted by discounts – Many retailers advertise heavily discounted rates but these are often conditional. Opting for a lower ongoing rate without discounts can be cheaper in the long-run, especially if you often pay your bills late. And remember, most discounts expire after a year or two. 5. Shop around – Use increased energy competition to your advantage by comparing current offers. Call an energy comparison service like iSelect and make sure you have a copy of your latest bill handy.[6]

/Public Release.