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Nov 21

Hardship policy

By Help Centre

LPE has a hardship support program.

It’s available to LPE residential customers who are experiencing a temporary or long-term financial difficulty that makes paying their electricity bills difficult.

See our Hardship Policy and Program below for more information or call us on 1800 040 168

Alternatively, you can complete our Customer Hardship Application. We will assess your application for hardship assistance by working day 5 of receiving the application.

Eligible customers receive advice and support from a dedicated consultant skilled in dealing with customers in hardship and trained to provide customers with the highest level of service. Closed accounts are not eligible for our hardship program.

LPE Customer Hardship Policy

Nov 16

Metering timeframes

By Help Centre

New Connection

LPE will arrange a meter install no later than 6 business days after being informed that connection service is complete (Energex will complete the connection service within 5 business days from LPE’s request)

Meter Exchange

LPE will arrange a meter exchange no later than 15 business days after receiving the customer’s request

Faulty Meter Exchange

The Meter Provider will replace a malfunctioning meter no later than 15 business days after notification of malfunction

Faulty Type 1-3 Meter Exchange

The Meter Provider will replace a malfunctioning meter no later than 15 business days after notification of malfunction

May 12

Why is my electricity bill higher than usual?

By Help Centre, News

It’s an awful feeling when you receive a ‘higher than expected’ electricity bill. Unexpected expenses can cause emotional and financial stress and leave you suffering from ‘bill shock’. Here at LPE, we want to help you save money, save electricity and save your sanity. So we’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of ‘bill shock’.

A change in seasons

A change in the seasons will often cause your electricity usage to change. In the winter months, our days become shorter so we use more lights for longer periods of time. In the summer months, days are warmer so we use more appliances like fans, water coolers and air-conditioners to keep cool. To gain an accurate indication of your electricity usage, be sure to compare your electricity bill with the same billing period from the year before.

Using the air conditioner to heat or cool your home

There was a time when air-conditioning was considered a luxury. But here in sunny Queensland, air-conditioning is a necessity, particularly in summer when temperatures reach the high 30s. While it’s tempting to turn the air-con down to 18C for maximum relief from our scorching heat, it will cause a spike in your electricity bill. The most cost efficient way to use your air-conditioner is to keep the temperature at 24-25C. Similarly, if you’re using your air-conditioner to keep your house toasty and warm during winter, this will also increase your electricity bill.
Did you have extra people in the home?

It’s always fun when family and friends come to visit. But we often forget the additional costs of extra guests by the time our electricity bill arrives. Having extra people in your home adds to your hot water usage and your everyday electrical usage like television, refrigeration and lighting. Was your last bill during the school holiday period? We all know how kids love to sit in front of their computer or television during school holidays. This can also contribute to a spike in your electricity bill.

Are you using old or power-hungry appliances?

Do you have a trusty old freezer that’s still working decades later? Old appliances, though trusty and functional, become less efficient over the years and cause a spike in your electricity bill. But even new appliances use different levels of electricity to operate. Do you know what your appliances are costing you in electricity? Before buying new appliances check the Energy Rating Level to find the most cost-effective appliances for your home. It could save you lots of money at bill time.

Energy tariffs

It’s easy to forget there are different electricity tariffs depending on the time of day you use your appliances. For instance, If you’re using your high-consumption appliances like dishwashers, clothes dryers or pool pumps during peak times, your energy consumption will be higher. To keep your electricity bill down, try using high-consumption appliances after 9pm when it’s off peak. Learn more about the different tariffs here.

Are you using more hot water?

It’s common for variations in your electricity bill during winter. In the colder months we all tend to linger in that steaming hot shower, using more hot water than normal and causing a potential increase in your electricity bill. Did you know the most cost-effective shower is just 4 minutes long? It’s a challenge in winter but try keeping your hot shower to a minimum to prevent a spike in your bill.

Check the billing period

How long was your billing period? Billing periods are rarely the same so check the actual number of days per billing period. This will often explain a variation in your bill.

Estimated bill

Occasionally your meter reader can’t access your meter to do an accurate reading. If this is the case, we’ll estimate your energy usage based on the same billing period the year before. If your estimated usage is higher than your actual usage, the amount will be adjusted on your next bill.

Previous bill

Was there an unpaid balance from your last bill? Unpaid balances are carried over to your next bill which will increase your electricity bill.

Are your concession details correct?

Are you eligible for a concession on your electricity bill? For instance, if you’re a Queensland senior or pensioner, you may be eligible for a concession. To find out if you’re eligible for a rebate on your electricity bill, get in touch with us here.

Still, having trouble paying?

We understand the financial pressure bills can have on families if you are having trouble paying your bill – We can help with payment extensions, payment plans Please contact us today to discuss payment options 1800 040 168. We hope you’ve found these tips useful for explaining an increase in your electricity bill. If you’d like more power-saving tips you might find this article useful too.

Feb 02

How to support the grid and prevent blackouts during summer heat waves

By Help Centre

While we don’t often think about the vital role the grid plays in our everyday lives, we do notice when it’s gone – ie. during blackouts. So as we are in the midst of another day of sweltering heat today, it’s worth sparing a second to consider how we can help support the grid during times of peak electricity demand.

Yesterday, parts of Queensland were at extremely high risk of experiencing rolling blackouts, as homes and businesses across the state turned on aircons in an attempt to combat the hot and humid temperatures. This collective action sent the demand for electricity to extraordinarily high levels, putting intense pressure on the electricity grid to generate and supply enough energy for everyone, resulting in a temporary energy crisis.

Not only do peak demand events like these increase the risk of rolling blackouts, but they also create an extremely volatile energy market, where the price of electricity can go up and down rapidly by thousands of dollars, every five minutes! While these price fluctuations aren’t likely to impact your electricity bills in the immediate future, we as your electricity provider have to bear these costs for you, and so the fluctuations can lead to electricity price increases over time.

So as the temperature begins to climb again this afternoon, and the electricity grid begins to struggle with the increased demand for the second day in a row, here are a few ways we can work together to reduce our electricity consumption for a few hours – for the good of the grid, and your future electricity bills!

1) Avoid using the washing machine, dryer or dishwasher between 4pm and 9pm

While these useful appliances make our everyday lives so much easier, they’re a huge drain on the electricity grid. During a heat wave, it’s vital that everyone avoids using their washing machines, dryers and dishwashers during the peak demand period, which starts at around 4pm when people begin arriving home from work, and ends at around 9pm when people start to go to bed. Nowadays, most appliances have timers, making it super easy to change up your cleaning schedule. So stack that dishwasher and throw a load in the washer, but wait until the morning before starting that wash cycle.

2) If you need to use your aircon, do so efficiently.

Don’t worry, we’re Queenslanders too, so we aren’t going to tell you to turn your aircon off in the middle of a heat wave! However, there are things you can do to make your aircon use more efficient. You probably already know that setting your aircon’s temperature to between 24-25 degrees is the most energy efficient thing you can do when it comes to cooling your home, but did you know that turning your aircon on earlier in the day and leaving it on, rather than switching it on and off multiple times, can also prevent your aircon from needing to work too hard to regulate a room’s temperature? It’s also wise to keep all windows and curtains shut, as well as any doors to rooms that aren’t being used. Stay cool, but be smart about it!

3) Dinner on the BBQ tonight, instead of in the oven.

Summer is BBQ season, and while it might not feel much cooler outside during a heat wave, you certainly don’t need an oven heating up your entire house, inside, before you go to bed! Using your gas BBQ rather than your electric oven during a heat wave will keep your house cool while also helping the grid meet demand, so grab the tongs and the BBQ sauce, and get on grilling!

4) Cool down with cold showers.

There is no better time to commit to a stint of cold showers than during a heat wave. You can save the electricity usually required to heat your water up, while cooling off at the same time! It’s a win for you, and the grid!)

5) Turn off all unnecessary appliances.

Do you really need the fan AND the aircon on? What about that spare fridge / freezer in the garage with nothing in it? During a heat wave, try to turn off any appliances that might be draining energy from the grid unnecessarily. You’ll be glad you did when you avoid a late night blackout!

6) Switch off as many lights as possible.

It might sound obvious, but switching off your lights can make a huge difference in a heat wave. Try and use only the lights you absolutely need, or get candles out and make an evening of it. Not only will this help the grid, but if it does fail and you do find yourself in the middle of a blackout, you’ll be totally prepared!

7) Get a battery for your solar system

If you already have solar, consider getting a battery. If you don’t already have solar, consider getting both! With a battery, your home can generate your own clean electricity via your solar system during the day, and then store it in your very own electricity bank for use at night. This will reduce your dependency on the grid when it is struggling the most and allow you to take control of your electricity supply and consumption. At LPE, we have solar and battery packages specifically designed to help you become more self-sufficient, so you can worry less about how heat waves and blackouts might impact your home, and focus more on enjoying a guilt-free, cool evening in.

Jan 05

The way we pay for electricity has changed – demand tariffs

By Help Centre, Updates

The way we pay for electricity has changed. Now, more than ever before, your behaviour when using appliances in your home could have you paying a much higher price for your electricity. LPE is here to help by explaining how these new changes could affect you and how you can avoid paying higher bills.

What’s Happening?

Required by the Australian Energy Regulator and implemented by electricity distributors such as Energex and Ergon, Demand Tariffs are being introduced to homes and businesses with smart meters to encourage households and businesses to use less electricity during peak demand times when there’s more pressure on the electricity grid. This is happening across all electricity providers, not just LPE.

Watch this video to learn more.

What is a Demand Tariff?

A demand tariff is a pricing structure that includes a ‘demand’ charge for your use of the electricity network.

How Demand Tariffs Work and How They Differ to Standard Tariff Electricity Plans

Normally, electricity costs are based on the following charges:

  • Supply charges – a flat daily cost charged by your distributor to get electricity to your home or business, and for the maintenance of poles and wires.
  • Usage charges – the total amount of electricity you use over the billing period (often with different rates for peak, shoulder, and off-peak periods), with rates charged per kWh of electricity used.

However, if you’re on a demand tariff, your bill will also include an additional ‘demand’ or ‘capacity’ charge. This extra charge is calculated using your highest electricity usage period (measured in 30 minute blocks between the peak times of 4pm and 9pm) and resets monthly, meaning, you only need to hit your peak once for that same demand charge to be applied to your bill for every single day of that month. This means that the price of your electricity bill is influenced not only by how much electricity you use overall, but also by the ‘demand’ you put on the electricity network during peak times. In simple terms, that means if you turn on lots of devices (eg. the TV, washing machine, dryer and dishwasher) within a 30-minute period between 4pm to 9pm, the ‘demand’ you put on the electricity network will be high. And if you have a smart meter and are on a demand tariff electricity plan, your charges will be too. Therefore the key is to spread your electricity usage out over the 5 hours between 4pm and 9pm, rather than turning on everything at once.

Saving Money on Demand Tariffs

You can avoid high demand tariff charges and save money on your bills by understanding how and when your home uses electricity, as well as monitoring and adjusting your electricity usage monthly, when you receive your bill. Our top tips include:

1. Staggering your use of appliances between 4pm and 9pm

Avoid running lots of appliances at once to avoid a high demand peak. Instead, stagger your use of appliances across 30 minute intervals. For example, you could turn your aircon on at 6pm, begin cooking dinner after 6:30pm, and put the dishwasher on after 7pm.

2. Changing the time you use appliances to avoid peak times

Use appliances outside the peak demand window when the demand charge isn’t being measured. For example, you could run your dishwasher, clothes dryer and pool pump overnight (after 9pm) or in the morning.

Apr 04

Keep your cool with summer electricity bills

By Help Centre, News

How to conserve electricity and lower your electricity bill?

It takes a bit more effort than switching lights off!

That’s because the major component, in fact 40%, is heating and cooling in a typical electricity-powered household.

Coming in second, your appliances use around 33%. Then hot water is almost quarter of your bill at 21% with lights coming in at a much lower 6%.

The good news is that there are lots of things you can do around your house right now to reduce electricity usage.

Did you know that if you close windows, curtains and blinds early before your home’s interior heats up, you will retain that cool air and keep the hot air outside? When the external temperature drops, open up and let the cool air flow in. A handy gift idea is a fancy thermometer with an external sensor connected wirelessly that gives you both inside and outside temperatures. When the temperature is higher outside than inside, keep the hot air closed out. When the temperature is lower or the same as outside, open up and let the cool breezes flow. Night-time is a great tirme to have windows open on all sides of the house to get cross-flow of air.

Air-conditioners are very effective and popular. Each time you lower the temperature by a degree, this can add up to 10% to the air-conditioner’s running costs. The best temperature range is between 24-25oC and only cool the rooms people are using. Close the doors, windows, curtains and blinds in the rooms you are cooling. In fact, up to 40% of the energy used to cool your home can be lost through the windows or by direct sunlight coming into your home. This loss can be reduced by double glazing, tinting, close-fitting thick drapes or internal/external blinds, and heat-reflective or light-coloured backing on curtains.

Effective insulation inside your wall and above your ceilings makes a huge difference, because your home is kept at a stable temperature so that you use less energy to keep rooms cool.

Fans may seem old-fashioned yet they are effective at creating a breeze that cools you down. The running cost of a fan is a fraction of running an air-conditioner. Fans cool people not rooms – so remember to turn them off when you leave.

There are many more facts, tips and tricks for appliance use, cooking, showering with hot water and how to work out electricity usage in this brochure which you can download if you wish to.

Investigate your options by comparing electricity providers for best rates, excellent service… and support your local community by choosing local business. Contact us now and our customer care team can help you with a bill comparison and talk about your options. As locals, we experience the same weather conditions as you and we know tips and tricks to conserving electricity.

Feb 07

Electricity lingo: The lowdown

By Help Centre, Updates

So, what do they actually mean anyway? For those of us who could use a refresher on high school science classes, here’s a quick guide.

What exactly does kWh mean?

This is a frequently used term of measurement in the electricity business, but what does it actually mean? Well, kWh stands for kilowatt hour, which measures energy, not time. It’s the amount of energy used in an hour by a kilowatt (kW). A kilowatt is 1,000 watts, so it’s the energy used to run a 1,000 watt appliance for 1 hour. A cent per kWh rate tells you how much you will be charged for using that amount of energy. It’s kind of like cents per litre when you’re buying petrol. Generally, using kWh is the best way to find the electricity company with the cheapest rate, so now you know, you can select that option the next time you use a comparison site!

What’s the difference between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC)?

In DC, the electrons in the current all flow in one direction – let’s call it forward. But in AC, they alternate between moving forward, and moving backwards. AC is better for travelling long distances, because DC loses energy quickly. AC comes from a mains electricity supply or from an AC generator while DC comes from batteries. AC is the type of current used in your house, so energy stored up in solar batteries needs to be changed from DC to AC. That’s what an inverter in solar panels does!

So when you install solar, the solar panels produce high voltage direct current (DC) that is turned into standard household 240V alternating current (AC) by the inverter.

What’s a photovoltaic (PV) panel?

This is basically just a fancy name for a solar panel! There is plenty of information out there about how solar panels work, but all you really need to know is that PV panels can turn the energy from the sun into electricity, and they are different to thermal solar panels, which are used to produce hot water. They also don’t need direct sunlight to work – you can still get energy from the sun on a cloudy day!

What’s an embedded network?

Embedded networks are basically the result of a contract between building owners and an electricity supplier, where there is a single meter installed to add up all the energy used by everyone in a building such as a block of apartments. Then, sub meters are used to measure each individual home’s energy use, so that everyone is paying their fair share. By putting all their energy into one big purchasing block, occupants can get a cheaper price than if they all bought it separately. It’s basically like bulk buying for electricity! You can learn more about embedded networks here.

What’s the National Electricity Network?

The National Electricity Network (NEM) is a large transmission network that generates and supplies wholesale electricity along the east coast of Australia. It delivers the electricity to large industry users and to local suppliers such as LPE. It’s one of the biggest ones in the world!

If you run into any jargon you don’t understand, or you have any questions about how to interpret your energy bill, then please give us a call on 1800 040 168 and we’ll be happy to explain it. Our mission is to make energy more accessible and understandable.

Feb 07

Keep your cool with your summer electricity bills

By Help Centre

How to conserve electricity and lower your electricity bill?

It takes a bit more effort than switching lights off!

That’s because the major component, in fact 40%, is heating and cooling in a typical electricity-powered household.

Coming in second, your appliances use around 33%. Then hot water is almost quarter of your bill at 21% with lights coming in at a much lower 6%.

The good news is that there are lots of things you can do around your house right now to reduce electricity usage.

Did you know that if you close windows, curtains and blinds early before your home’s interior heats up, you will retain that cool air and keep the hot air outside? When the external temperature drops, open up and let the cool air flow in. A handy gift idea is a fancy thermometer with an external sensor connected wirelessly that gives you both inside and outside temperatures. When the temperature is higher outside than inside, keep the hot air closed out. When the temperature is lower or the same as outside, open up and let the cool breezes flow. Night-time is a great tirme to have windows open on all sides of the house to get cross-flow of air.

Air-conditioners are very effective and popular. Each time you lower the temperature by a degree, this can add up to 10% to the air-conditioner’s running costs. The best temperature range is between 24-25oC and only cool the rooms people are using. Close the doors, windows, curtains and blinds in the rooms you are cooling. In fact, up to 40% of the energy used to cool your home can be lost through the windows or by direct sunlight coming into your home. This loss can be reduced by double glazing, tinting, close-fitting thick drapes or internal/external blinds, and heat-reflective or light-coloured backing on curtains.

Effective insulation inside your wall and above your ceilings makes a huge difference, because your home is kept at a stable temperature so that you use less energy to keep rooms cool.

Fans may seem old-fashioned yet they are effective at creating a breeze that cools you down. The running cost of a fan is a fraction of running an air-conditioner. Fans cool people not rooms – so remember to turn them off when you leave.

There are many more facts, tips and tricks for appliance use, cooking, showering with hot water and how to work out electricity usage in this brochure which you can download if you wish to.

Investigate your options by comparing electricity providers for best rates, excellent service … and support your local community by choosing local business. Contact us now and our customer care team can help you with a bill comparison and talk about your options. As locals, we experience the same weather conditions as you and we know tips and tricks to conserving electricity.

Feb 07

How to save money on your electricity bill

By Help Centre, Quick Facts

Most people don’t know this, but lighting only makes up about 6% of your electricity bill!

So where is the rest of the electricity going? Let’s take a look.

  • Did you know that approx. 21% of your electricity bill goes to hot water?
  • That’s almost a quarter of your overall electricity costs.
  • Approx 33% goes to appliances like fridges and freezers.
  • Heating and cooling count for approx. 40%

The best way to reduce your electricity bill is by reducing your overall electricity usage.

  • Be careful with your devices, and unplug anything that’s not in use.
  • Try setting your air con a few degrees higher – setting it between 24 and 26 degrees could lower your consumption by a whopping 10-15 percent!
  • Keep your fridge at about 4 degrees and your freezer at -18 degrees for the best results. Just one degree colder could cost you 10% more!

You can also try switching to solar electricity, which is a better option than ever before, and not only is it environmentally friendly, it is a straightforward way to reduce your costs if your usage is already efficient or can’t be reduced.

Investigate your options – look at all the different electricity companies and compare them, to find out who can offer you the best rates and the best service. Look at whether they are local, what level of customer support they offer, and what their best rate is. You could save just by switching your provider! Contact us now to find out if we are the best option for you.

Make sure your home is well insulated. Insulation makes a huge difference, because it keeps your home at a stable temperature, meaning you have to do way less work to keep it warm or cool. If you can’t improve your insulation, keep your doors and windows shut so that your house is as stable as it can be. You can also try installing blinds or thick curtains over windows that are in the sun all day will help to keep your house cool in the summer. Minimising draughts in the colder months can help keep you warm!

Another thing you can do is turn to the experts, and chat with your electricity provider about your options, to make sure that you have the best setup possible for your home. They are the experts in the field, and they should be able to help you with tips and tricks to keep yourself saving power!

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