Origin Energy plans and review

Don't trust bill credit offers from Origin

Good luck getting any bill credits they promise you. After switching to a different provider, someone from Origin contacted me (first by call and then email), to offer, among other things, a $100 bill credit if I switched back to Origin. I accepted the offer, but am now encountering considerable difficulty in having the credit applied to my bills. When I received my first bill since moving back to Origin (without the credit applied), I called up and was told that the credit does not appear on my retention plan. But the credit is clearly mentioned - it is called an "additional offer of $100 credit" - in the email to which what they now call the "plan" was attached. I had very clearly written back accepting the plan outlined in their "document," by which I meant email with the plan attached, and asking to proceed on those terms. I received assurances this would occur. Why are we not proceeding on those terms then? I suspect I'll get the credit eventually, because anything else is an obvious breach of contract. My problem is that I obviously have to make a cause of the whole thing to get anywhere. Just give me the credit you promised. Don't be untrustworthy.

200% higher than last year

meter readings not correct charged twice as much as last year $700 for 1 occupant

Worst energy supplier I've ever had. Use them for my business, and all the bills are very uncleared.

Worst energy supplier I've ever had. Use them for my business, and all the bills are very uncleared. 1). Have to keep asking to do the meter reading 3-4 times, but still didn't have any figures. 2). After 5 months using them, the bills are coming as a big lump sum not explain clearly. Still "Estimated Meter Read" not the "Actual Meter Read". 3). Staff are extremely unhelpful. (Call multiple times & ask for help & explanation. but only keep re-do the meter reading. You will get ripped off as their electricity bills are about 50% higher than other suppliers. I will not use this energy supplier again.

Stop me changing the solar boost plan when website is available

I requested to change plan to solar boost more than a week ago. People keeps emailing me and said my name not matching my address and account name which I have been using for three years. I attached meter number with my address and name as evidence, now I was told plan is not avail so I can't change. However, plan is still available online so doesn't make sense. Customer reply takes forever and just like a robot repeating same thing, but not really answer my questions. Origin is getting worse since early this year, not recommend. Price you paid is not matching the service you will get. I have switched my gas cylinder deom Origin to other company since June. Now due to they stop me changing plan, definitely will change electricity company next step hopefully in two weeks time.

Incompetent Fraudsters

I moved out of my apartment in December 2021. all amounts owing were paid and I received an email from origin confirming that the account was settled and closed. In February i started receiving calls that my Bill was now overdue. I spent around two hours of calls back and forth confirming that this was incorrect, followed by confirmation in email that there was an error on their side. I have since been dealing with recovery companies demanding payments of bills after I left. they are currently receiving payment from the new tenant for the same account. this is FRAUD. I have spent up to 5 additional hours between multiple departments sending them copies of their OWN emails trying to get this sorted out. they are an absolute joke. I will NEVER deal with this bunch of jokers

Origin Energy is not good in Sherwood, QLD

During my contract of one year, there are 3 quarter bills except starting bill and final bill. After the first actual meter reading bill, the others are all estimated and will not be adjusted ever again even for my closing bill. Unacceptable, my first accurate bill charge is $293.15, but after that, the bill increased multiply to $491.14, then to $710.13 under their estimated meter reading. How can they estimate so casual? Even more, the new charge of 3 days before closing date when I had moved out and no one used hot water again, they charged me a $70.05! What a feeling of hopelessness and incredible!

Untrustworthy

The bills are estimated most of the time and will not be adjusted ever again. My bills amount is $293.15 per quarter under the actual meter reading. But after they estimated, my bills increase from $293.15 to $780.18 per quarter. Unbelievable, the last bill is still be estimated after I disconnected my account. Even more, the new charge of 3 days before closing date when I had moved out and no one used hot water again, they send me a $70.05 bill. what a feeling of hopelessness!

Double price after 12 months

Company applies such called "loyalty tax". So if you miss email about new plan after 12 moths of the service you will be surprised with the new bill - price will be DOUBLED. In my view, that it is completely opposite to customer oriented service. If you call them to express your frustration they will offer you cheaper plan (it is definitely not the best on the market). So they can provide cheaper plan but why not to charge you as mush as possible until you do not notice it..

Be Careful of Promises

After waiting almost 6 months to get my solar system up and running (initial estimate was 7 to 12 weeks) finally got to flick the switch. Broken promise 1. With a 3.12 Kw system would have thought that I would at least generate 50% of that at worst. Found that the panels were facing south east, tilted at ~5 degrees. Broken promise 2. Originally, after the supposed site inspection (no evidence this was physically done, even after advising it would be advantageous) panels were to go on the garage pointing north east, but on arrival the installers who were tasked with doing the site inspection informed me the panels couldn't go on the garage as it would be too hard to run cable. Looks like they took the easy option. Broken promise 3. I offered to remove roofing panels so alternative cable run could be hidden but declined and run cables down side of house. Now after an upgrade of the Origin App, cant see estimated or actual billing details. Have been told billing estimates only available after bill is issued. Really? Also found a new charge on the bill that isn't on any of the details about my plan. This is an additional Tariff rate called 'General Usage' at 25c KWh, along with Peak, Off-peak, Shoulder and Controlled load 1. I still haven't been able to get an answer on this charge. I understand that at the moment electricity providers are doing it tough and need to put their prices up but to introduce a totally new charge cant be right. And this after an email a few months ago saying there would be no new charges. Broken Promise 4. Also getting a new meter, as required added a month, allowed Origin to increase their charges by almost 9c KWh, before the 'energy crunch'. Now with the price of electricity going up but the feed-in remaining idiotically low, the pay-back for me blows out, possibly never making equity. The App is full of patronizing help hints like '...KWh isnt the amount of kilowatts you use in an hour, rather the amount of 1000 x watts you use in an hour", and statements advising to get in touch if you have an issue, but no solutions are given, rather entering you into a loop of responses that ask for details, escalation or use the chat facility which still doesnt respond after a few hours. Unfortunately the cost wasn't the cheapest, the service wasn't near the best, the speed of installation wasn't anywhere near the quickest and the plan isn't the best. All these things weren't apparent until completion of installation. Given my time again, I'd think twice about using Origin. Then twice again.

Not worth the struggle

I have embedded a network with the origin, and I have installed 6.6kw solar panels(for $3000), I was paying $160 per month and now I'm paying $75 per month. It's ridiculous compares to what my friends were getting($10 credit per month, with more tenants). On top of that, they didn't activate my solar panels after 8moths they were already installed, meanwhile, I had to pay for electricity without my feed-in tariff. No compensation was accepted at their end. among numerous other headache issues. I had to call them every day for over the past year to follow up on the solar application and incorrect bills, all I got was pushed around between departments and never responding email from the solar team department for 8 months, also with rubbish like, "it's been escalated", "Please wait patiently your issue will be resolved soon" and most of all "I have passed this to my supervisor he will be following up with u". anyway I got none of that they promised. After over a year of hair pulling struggle with Origin, I decide to share this with those who it may benefit. Hope nobody has to work full-time, be with their family and have to deal with this nonsense on the daily basis.