With 1 in 3 Victorians concerned about energy bills, support is on the way for regional consumers to access their rights and reduce their costs.

Regional Victorians are concerned about paying for the essentials as they face another six weeks at home. Energy bills can be one less worry, according to Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) energy experts, Karl Barratt and Cameron Crome, with support available via a partnership established with the Victorian Government in 2019.

“High energy bills are concerning. The coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted people who’ve never worried about their energy bill before, and for others it’s made a tough situation much worse” said Karl Barratt, Research and Engagement Manager at CPRC. “We’ve simplified the support available to ensure regional Victorians are not forgotten during this pandemic and can take control of their energy bills.”

CPRC’s research found that 31% of Victorians were concerned about their ability to pay their energy bill in May. But only 11% of consumers were taking action to reduce costs. A lot more people could be switching to a better plan, asking for payment assistance, or accessing government concessions. These free, simple webinars aim to get regional consumers the support they need.

“We’re trying to reach as many people as we can through our free webinar series to show people that energy doesn’t need to be difficult. We’re putting consumers back in the driver’s seat when it comes to their energy bills” said Cameron Crome, Energy Trainer at CPRC.

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“In just 30 minutes, people learn four simple and effective steps to tackle their energy costs: getting cheaper energy prices; saving with concessions; getting help from their energy company; and, importantly, how to save energy while staying comfortable in the home. Getting the chance to ask questions about your energy concerns directly to the experts and in real time is another great reason to participate in an Energy Simplified webinar.”

Webinars are running from now until 1 September.

Register for a free webinar at https://events.humanitix.com/take-control-of-your-energy-bill-webinars and go to www.cprc.org.au for more information.

These webinars were developed in partnership with the Victorian Government, Ellis Jones and CISVic to train 650 community workers around Victoria 2019.

Thanks to the support of AusNet Services, CPRC has received a boost to support regional consumers over the next three weeks to ensure this essential resource reaches those who need it most.

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