Coast towns plan bid for cheap power

MICHELLE HERBISON
BARWON Heads and Ocean Grove residents are banding together to bulk-buy electricity, according to a community spokesman.
Ocean Grove Community Association’s Michael Harbour said 60 residents so far had shown interest in the cost-saving project.
Mr Harbour the said residents would seek discounted rates for buying as a group rather than individuals.
The bid follows a report in the Independent late last year of Portarlington residents working with Powergroup Purchasing to secure cheaper power from AGL.
Mr Harbour said the Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads residents would form a panel to work with Powergroup Purchasing for their own deal.
Portarlington’s success had prompted the new joint towns bid, he said.
“The more people you have signing up for such an initiative, more likely you are to achieve most cost savings.”
Mr Harbour said other communities had reported household savings of up to $300 a year.
Powergroup Purchasing’s Chris Kechagias said Portarlington group-buyers had saved about 10.9 per cent.
“A lot of elderly people were just sitting on rates that were no longer competitive.”
Mr Kechagis said the amount of Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads residents who joined the scheme would determine the size of the savings.
Mr Kechagis said Powergroup Purchasing representatives would be on Barwon Heads foreshore during Sunday’s Festival of the Sea to answer questions and take registration details.