And if the pensioners don't get a pay rise, heaven help them. These increases will just overwhelm most us, as I am sure the one you mention koko is just the beginning. Pretty frightening. As an old friend of mine said "we have just lived too long". Sad isn't it?

And if the pensioners don't get a pay rise, heaven help them. These increases will just overwhelm most us, as I am sure the one you mention koko is just the beginning. Pretty frightening. As an old friend of mine said "we have just lived too long". Sad isn't it?



Couldn't agree more, Pommy.

Yes whats new things always go up way b4 we get a rise--such as it is--Elec' has gone up a few times already as has water--and we have plenty here---I am already paying about $40 extra for elect'--plus the land line has also increased the prices as well

Somehow - just somehow, we do manage to cope with the ever increasing prices of just about everything. We are a hardy bunch of people. We snip a little off here, a little off there. But there will come a time when there's nothing else left to snip off. I believe we are fast reaching that point now. What will happen to us then? A slow decline into absolute abject poverty - not able to buy the medication we need - or indeed the food. Forget about replacing any item of furniture or furnishings. We'll all start dropping off like flies. Maybe that is what is being aimed for? We have become too expensive to support.

Yes whats new things always go up way b4 we get a rise--such as it is--Elec' has gone up a few times already as has water--and we have plenty here---I am already paying about $40 extra for elect'--plus the land line has also increased the prices as well



You're quite right there that things are going up all the time.

Don't know if you're in Victoria, but yes, energy costs have risen considerably in the last two years.

Why I posted the above article is because of the [b]size[/b] of the predicted rises.



We possibly could be paying $300.00 per year more than currently.

We are using less water and paying far more.



The govt is floundering like ducks out of water...pun intended...as far as Victoria and Melbourne's future water needs are concerned.

Predictions are that Melbourne could run out of water within the next couple or 3 years.



I wouldn't mind so much if we could have seen something solid from this government(Vic).

All we get is a plan for a desal plant which will use horrendous amounts of electricity, so electricity will go up yet again., and who knows how long it'll take......and a plan for a pipeline from a stressed river system, which they now say will not deliver much water.



Had they built a dam on the Mitchell, our water problems would be all but solved, due to the heavy rains last year...but of course, they can't upset the Greens.

But instead, we pay and pay and pay...for what?

I am in NSW--and I am always amazed at the very little rain that Vic' gets--we have had over 600mm so far this year--I have no doubt that they will be out of water very soon if you don't get good rains--and the Murray is very unlikely to have enough water--all those River Red Gums dying because lack of water. when I look at the rain fall you get there I am gob smacked.

I am very fast approaching the point where the availability charge actually exceeds my usage charge. No way a solar hot water service would cut my electricity bill - it would cost me money in the long term.

You hit the nail on the head Bev. It is the base rate which is the killer. We use such a small amount of water these days trying to save precious water. We time 2 min. showers every day

and re-use water for the garden. Use a glass to rinse from for cleaning teeth instead of the running tap. In fact save precious water all the time so it is not our usage that is so high but the dam availability charge as you said.

Yes it is the same with all bills including the phone bill--and if water/elect' goes past your property--you have to pay the fee

BevG - you are probably right, I think we have outlived our usefulness and all these increases in costs of basic utilities are the straw that's going to beak the camels' back. As a matter of interest, we in the A.C.T. haven't had really good rains for ages and the Chief Minister's answer to that is to suggest we supplement the dams from the Murrumbidgee, which is fed by the Murray ????? We are on water restrictions, the odds and evens system for three hours morning and evening. As at the 22nd April our dam level (three dams combined) was 44.15%).



The Legislative Assembly will be presenting the Territoryy budget in May, so it will be interesting to see what they do. We have a minority party (the Greens) holding the balance of power, so this budget could be a real indication of what happens when the Greens have the final say!!!! With kangaroos dying because of lack of feed and water, we are not allowed to humanely kill them, far better to run over them or let them starve.



I went off the track somewhat, but I think this is an indication of how we are being governed at the moment ad hoc decisions being made which just end up costing us more and more.