By Mandy Oakham
Households that are unable to pay skyrocketing power bills are inundating Geelong welfare agencies.
The Salvos reported almost 8000 applications for help across the Barwon region over the past three months, up more than 30 per cent on the same time last year.
The Salvos helped with 7732 instances of people needing financial help, compared to 5483 in 2016.
SalvoConnect Barwon network director Lorrinda Hamilton said her agency was concerned about the impact of rising living costs on needy Geelong people, particularly the elderly and others on fixed incomes.
“Obviously we’re very concerned about the increase in financial distress that local people are facing,” Ms Hamilton said.
“We had a single woman come in trying to survive on Newstart and when she talked to utility providers they were asking for a total of $202 a week for payments plans. Newstart for this woman was approximately $470 per week.
“We had another person admitted to hospital as a result of anxiety and depression due to the exacerbation of their financial situation.
“They were struggling to survive on a disability pension and were using credit cards to keep debt collectors at bay and to keep the utilities on.
“The situation escalated to over $25,000 worth of debt, most of which was related to interest, fees and charges.”
Ms Hamitlon said a SalvoConnect client with an intellectual disability was distressed over a threatened disconnection but continued receiving threats despite offering proof of making fortnightly payments.
The company disconnected the client’s supply but had to pay $3000 compensation after a successful complaint to the Energy and Water Ombudsman, she said.
The company had been crediting the fortnightly payments to an incorrect meter number.
The hardship stories follow an Indy report that rising power price were hampering Viva Energy’s efforts to make Corio’s oil refinery viable.
The company was battling “significant headwinds” from the price rises for electricity and gas as it continued working through a $350 million upgrade program, Viva Energy chief Scott Wyatt said in June.
The company was “encouraged by the engagement” of the Federal Government in recent talks on the issues confronting the refinery, he said.
A source told the Indy this week that the refinery’s power bill would double to $100 million a year.
The refinery provides employment for 700 staff and contractors.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief James Pearson, formerly a senior executive in the oil and gas industry, visited the refinery on Thursday to discuss issues including the impact of rising power prices.
