@Carso81 so there's a lot to know that could help work out your issue, and while AGL might be able to assist, it's also very basic common sense as to how / why bills might be getting high.
1. What sort of plan are you on ? Fixed (single) tariff, TOU (time of use) tariff, is there any demand tariff attached ?
2. How long has this been an issue ? Recent between last bill and this one, just moved in, other ?
3. Was the bill estimated, rather than actual ?
4. Price increases, though most of the big increases happened at different times for various states.
You bill will tell you almost EVERYTHING you want to know though.
Get out an older reasonable bill and the latest bill . . .
1. Check reading type on current bill, actual or estimate, this will depend if you are on fixed or TOU tariff, with analogue or digital metering respectively. If you have an analogue meter, check your reading to compare to the bill. If analogue meter and bill is estimated, it could be massively inflated, or it might have been read wrong.
2. Check power usage amounts to last bills.
3. Check price amounts for both bills.
How does usage and cost per kwh compare to other previous bills ?
If you have a digital meter on TOU, with you and your housemates work hours, you will be paying the highest power rates in the hours before you go to work, and especially in the time mid afternoon to midnight when you consume probably the most power . . . and this is where households with all people working during the day are caught out badly with TOU.
You can only work through the various time interval costs by downloading the data from the usage page on your account, then looking at all the 30 minute blocks and how much power is consumed in those times.
It's somewhat complex.
There are ways to beat this somewhat (for now), but not cheap !
Eg, you can get solar, preferably with a battery now with low FITs and the need to self consume, cost upwards of $20k for a good system and battery.
This can easily make your bills nil, but a big upfront, and a lot of extra things to get through with solar / battery install, and ensuring it's all functioning properly.
Or, a lot of homes might be better off to get a battery only, fill that from the grid in cheapest times of day, and use in peak periods.
This is still going to cost up to $10k - $13k, but you don't have solar to worry about.
Many retailers now offer various cheaper time to use power, which varies from state to state.
Some have solar soak rates of very low cost, others same 1000 - 1500 rates that are about half to three quarters normal peak rate.
It's a minefield now with power and costs, and often too hard for people to really sort through it all and work out what's best for them and their home usage, and what their state plans / current costs are.
Eg, here in SA solar and battery is really worth it, as the FIT is pathetic, and the peak rate highest in Australia.
