How Qlders can save up to $1000 on their power bill

Queensland households can save more than $1000 on their power bills by switching from the worst energy retailer to the best, a new report has found.

Queensland households can save more than $1000 on their power bills by switching from the worst energy retailer to the best, a new report has found.

It also revealed some energy retailers were attracting solar customers by offering high feed-in-tariff rates before slashing them in half or more after they reach a certain threshold.

The Queensland Tariff Tracker report, prepared by St Vincent de Pauls to be released on Tuesday, reveals which retailers are offering the best and worst deals out there.

It follows power bills spiking a whopping 21.5 per cent in South East Queensland and 28 per cent in the state’s regions from July 1.

Some energy retailers are luring customers in with high solar feed-in tariffs. . For Herald Sun Real estate

GloBird Energy had the highest standing offer, which worked out at $3780 a year, based on a non-solar household using 8000kWh a year, compared with Amber which was $2729.

Queenslanders on a standing offer with the two biggest energy retailers, Origin and AGL, could save up to $635 by looking for a better deal, the report states.

St Vincent de Paul Society spokesman Gavin Dufty said shopping around for a better deal would help some Queenslanders mitigate the impact of recent price increases.

“You’d be mad if you didn’t shop around. That’s money in your pocket, rather than shareholders’,” Mr Dufty said.

“There’s a lot more on the table if you haven’t been refreshing your bill, switching and checking to see if you’re paying above the odds.”

Red Energy’s Solar Saver deal offered the highest feed-in tariff for customers with solar panels exporting back into the grid, of 16c/kWh, but after 5kWh have been exported in a day it drops to 8c/kWh.

EnergyAustralia’s Solar Max deal offered 15c/kWh and drops to 6.6c/kWh after 15kWh have been exported in a day.

Mr Dufty said the amount of solar a household exports varies greatly on factors like appliances, how many people are in the household and how many are at home during the day, but 10kWh was a broad average for daily exports.

St Vincent de Paul's manager of policy and research Gavin Dufty

“Some retailers are leading with a large feed-in number and it appeals to some households,” he said.

“It seems attractive, but in particular cases when you do the calculations it’s not.

“The best way to get the best value out of your solar is to consume as much as you can from your own generation.”

Mr Dufty urged people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and power bills to contact their retailer, who would be obliged to offer assistance through a hardship plan.

Meanwhile, the state government’s Climate Smart Energy Savers program opened on Monday and offered up to $1000 rebate for households which purchased eligible energy-efficient appliances.

It includes washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, refrigerators, airconditioners and solar and heat pump hot water systems, when switching from a two-star to four-star appliance.

Originally published as How Qlders can save up to $1000 on their power bill