02.Frequently asked questions
What is the aim of the Countdown for Electricity Reform campaign action?
Over the last four years, electricity bills have increased around 50% nationally, and the single biggest factor has been multi-billion dollar infrastructure costs.
The Prime Minister and state and territory leaders will meet in Canberra this Friday 7 December at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to discuss proposals for reforming electricity prices.
CHOICE’s Countdown for Electricity Reform campaign action aims to give consumers a voice at this meeting by communicating directly with Australia’s Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers.
We are calling for reforms to:
- Make sure that networks are as cost-effective as possible by strengthening the Australian Energy Regulator and changing the incentives for networks.
- Change the energy market to make reducing energy bills our first priority, with a major focus on saving energy and reducing peak demand.
- Give consumers a stronger voice in the way that the energy market is designed and operated.
Why is CHOICE asking consumers to email politicians?
CHOICE’s Countdown for Electricity Reform campaign action is about cutting through the politics of the electricity price debate by asking consumers to communicate directly with their state, territory and federal leaders about the need for reform. Many campaigns successfully use tools that ask supporters to communicate directly with decision-makers.
Importantly, Countdown for Electricity Reform is not a party-political campaign action – it is about the need for cooperation from all our governments – and we ask that supporters are respectful when they email politicians.
What is Do Gooder?
Do Gooder is an online platform for campaigning, created by a company called Digital Eskimo, and a separate party to CHOICE. We are using Do Gooder to spread the message about Countdown for Electricity Reform as effectively as we can.
Does this mean you support all of Do Gooder’s campaigns?
No, Countdown for Electricity Reform is a CHOICE campaign action and we are using Do Gooder’s online campaigning tools.
What happens when I sign the petition?
When you sign the petition, it sends an email to your state or territory and federal leader’s office. While supporters are able to customise the email, we ask that you are respectful when emailing politicians about the campaign.
What will happen to my personal details if I sign the petition?
You will only be contacted by Do Gooder if you choose to receive further updates from them when you sign the petition. You can also check out their privacy policy. Similarly, you will only be contacted by CHOICE if you choose to hear more from us when you sign the petition or you have already signed up as a CHOICE campaign supporter or member.
Is this the same as the Take the Power Back campaign that I already signed?
No, this is a new, urgent campaign action that follows directly on from Take the Power Back. Where Take the Power Back sent messages to federal and state or territory energy ministers, Countdown for Electricity Reform is taking the message to the next level, sending it to the Prime Minister and Premiers and Chief Ministers ahead of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting this Friday 7 December in Canberra.
When will the campaign end?
Countdown for Electricity Reform is a very short campaign action that will end on Friday 7 December, when Australia’s Prime Minister and State and Territory leaders meet in Canberra to discuss proposals for reforming electricity prices.