A few weeks ago I posted a msg asking about energy companies, and I decided to go with Origin Energy.

I signed up, then 2 weeks later I get a letter saying there is a problem. So I ring up the number on the letter immediately and the guy on the other end is an after-hours electrician who has no idea what I'm talking about.

I rung up the next day and the guy said they'll send someone over the next day, apparently they couldn't find the meter box so I gave them instructions on how to find it - and they asked for my mobile just incase the electrician needs to contact me.

I don't hear anything for a week. I f***ed up my back and I was home from work so I decided to investigate. I called up again, and explained what had happened, and they basically told me that it is impossible for Origin to have told me they'd send someone over because they need a weeks notice. So I gave the instructions again and arranged to have someone be at my place all day to ensure this electrician came. I even offered my mobile number, since they requested it last time, but the Origin lady got all s***ty at me and said electricians don't carry mobile phones, she had a real attitude, I dunno.

Anyway since that phone call, I haven't heard anything. Yesterday was the day the guy was supposed to come and he didn't. So what is the point of Origin Energy making these promises and f***ing me around?

What will happen if they continue to f*** me around? What can I do? Why does my electricity work for no reason?

electricians don't carry mobile phones

Riiiiight....

I work in Dispatch for the telstra technicians and they HAVE to have mobiles since we contact them several times throughout the day... This may be an automated system but I seriously doubt they wouldn't have mobiles.

Tell them to f*** themselves in the ass and change companies to someone who isn;t filled with people with sandy vagina's.
Your value as a consumer in boycotting their lame s*** will learn them gooderer than anything else.

I would just like to say I am an Electrician and I carry 2 mobiles work + personal


I wouldn't chase them up if they cant find it then stuff em just put about $250 a quarter into a different bank account to cover the cost when they find it. Keep the money in a high interest account so you profit from it and I would keep it until you move and maybe a bit longer.

I hear ya Denominator, but do I not risk my electricity being cut off? Can anyone explain where the current electricity is coming from and why no one is asking questions about it being used?

Would it work like Telstra does with the other phone companies?

I.e. they bill u but they 'hire' the lines off the original company?

I had a similar siuation that I ended up just giving up on. Same company however my issus is my meter box is faulty. basically the regulator that turns the hot water system on and off is broken so someone from energex came and wired it so it bypassed the regulator and is just on all the time now. I called them and urged them to fix it as my power bill was like double what it normallly is and nothing had changed other than the meter.

They told me there was nothing they can do as all they do is read the meter. All I could do was email this other company but never got a reply.
I rang them again however this time they said I had to ring energex.
At that point I CBF and just gave up.
Then around 2 months later I get a notice in my mail saying "We attempted to come fix your meter however the nature of your dog is questionable, Please call to arrange another time".

I ended up just paying the bill and not calling them back.

I hear ya Denominator, but do I not risk my electricity being cut off? Can anyone explain where the current electricity is coming from and why no one is asking questions about it being used?

it doesn't get physically switched off, they'll likely charge you from whatever the last reading (presumably when the previous tenant finalised their bill)

Dodge you need to get an electrician in to fix it on your coin.

cheaper power companies will be no different from cheaper telcos, cheaper pc stores, cheaper anything-technology related. you get the better rate at the cost of service, and if we're all lucky enough for enough people to jump on the bandwagon the problem will be too big for the govt to fix it back to what it was before deregulation allowed for all this to unfold.

life is good and stuff =/

man i hate these f***ing c***s of corporations. it took me 11 weeks to get a f***ing phone line connected at my current place when we moved in because of situations like this (much worse than your story though).

I was calling so many people, dealing with so many departments and techs at telstra, optus and contractors before the s*** was fixed.

An electrician isn't allowed to touch the meter as the meter is owned by energex. Catch 22 :(

i dunno about in QLD, but in NSW the power system is deregulated.

While different suburbs have different power companies that take care of the lines and come around to check your meter you are still free to sign up with whichever energy retailer you want.

You then pay that retailer and they get the meter details from whoever looks after your area. They then make sure they buy enough power to put on the grid to supply their customers and everyone is happy.

I am with AGL cause they cut me a deal because i have gas too, but im currently shopping around again to have a look at different options, renewable energy etc.

Energy Ombudsman QLD

Contact them.