As Australians continue to deal with the rising cost of living, they are reminded to check the charges on their energy bills are actually accurate.
A Melbourne resident, who lives in a new-build town house with her partner, said she was “astounded” to get a $430 gas bill recently, despite her two previous bills being under $100.
She said it made “no sense” and that her heating was electric, meaning “hardly anything is on gas”.
“Once I inspected the bill I realized it was actually an estimate,” she told news.com.au.
“Lucky for me AGL allows you to run a meter read to receive an actual bill so that’s what I did.”
The simple act wiped hundreds off her bill, bringing it down to the markedly different cost of $65.
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According to the Australian Energy Market Commission, a small customer is entitled to request that their energy retailer adjust their bill by providing their own reading of the meter if they believe the electricity or gas bill given was based on an inaccurate estimate.
If your meter is a “basic meter” rather than a “smart meter” it means someone must physically attend the property to read it, which is when estimates are sometimes used.
Whether or not your bill is based on an estimate is indicated by an A (actual) or E (estimate) on the bill.
AGL said it there were “a range of factors” that resulted in customers getting an estimated read.
“When we’re unable to get an actual read of a meter, we send an estimated bill based on a number of factors including past energy usage and the average usage of similar customers,” a spokesperson said.
The company said customers were able to submit their own read directly via the AGL App or over the phone and their bill would be adjusted accordingly.
“As one of Australia’s largest energy retailers, AGL is committed to keeping energy prices competitive and affordable for customers,” the spokesperson said, adding that anyone with concerns should contact them.
The electricity crisis caused EnergyAustralia to suffer a whopping $1.6 billion loss for the first half of the year as the company battled with “extreme” conditions in the market.
The Melbourne-based company, owned by Hong Kong’s CLP Group, also warned that household power bills would continue to face pressure due to ongoing volatility in global fuel prices.
The mega loss experienced by the third biggest energy retailer was in stark contrast to last year when it recorded a $146 million profit.
The chief executive of parent company CLP Group, Richard Lancaster, said it would be “proactive” in seeking out partnerships for EnergyAustralia to transition to low-carbon energy.
Six weeks before the loss was reported, the company had issued a profit warning to the market.
On Monday, it revealed its earning had taken a huge hit as it was forced to buy up expensive supplies to meet customer demand amid “unprecedented market volatility”.
Shortfalls in energy production from its Yallourn and Mount Piper coal plants was one of the main reasons it had to shell out more money for supplies.
Its Yallourn plant in particular was hit by delays due to a fire on a coal conveyancer system and recurring maintenance issues, according to CLP Group.
However, the outlook on pricing continued to be bad, according to the company.
“Volatility in spot prices in response to weather variations and changes in supply and demand looks set to continue amid the net-zero transition in Australia,” CLP Group said.
However, EnergyAustralia’s competitors, AGL Energy and Origin Energy, have also sounded the alarm about profits due to issues such as coal power outages and supply problems at some plants.
Mr Lancaster said while the last six months were not representative of the market in general, volatility was something to expect in Australia.
Last month, the credit agency Standard & Poor (S&P) warned EnergyAustralia could be at risk of breaching one of its loans and suggested it may need financial assistance from its parent company.
EnergyAustralia signed a $1 billion credit facility in July to provide a bigger financial buffer for its operations, with S&P giving it a negative outlook due to its weakening credit position.
In its half yearly report, EnergyAustralia said it would “continue to strengthen its capital structure to fund its current and future investment needs, providing the reliable supply needed to support customer demand and the transition to a lower-carbon power market”.
But other retailers going under – with a spate collapsing including Byron Bay community-owned electricity provider Enova, Victorian provider Electricityinabox, LPE, Discover, Elysian and Future X – was a win for EnergyAustralia, which saw its customer base leap to 2.45 million.
EnergyAustralia said it had plans in place for the rest of the year to ensure electricity supply.
“Additional short-term coal and gas purchases have been made to enable EnergyAustralia’s power stations to support customers and the broader energy market in the second half,” CLP said.
Peter Bol took one look at the start list and knew he wasn’t going to get the race he wanted.
But rather than fret about it he made a decision to overcome it — and he very nearly did in a thrilling men’s 800m final at the Commonwealth Games on Monday morning (AEST).
The 28-year-old was still smiling after he took the silver medal, but there will always be a part of him that looks back at his incredible achievement as “bitter sweet”.
Bol described the race as “strange” and was left lamenting the tactics at play that resulted in the first 500m being run ultra-slow.
It was playing out as he expected — not in his favour.
Bol told reporters after the race he knew it was going to be a slow race because there were no front-runners anywhere on the start list.
It meant he was unable to run the race he wanted as he took just a brief moment to respond when Kenyan Wyclife Kinyamal took off with more than 200m to go. That brief, micro, delay was all it took in the end as Kinyamal, the defending champion, won by just 0.14 seconds in a time of 1:47.52.
It will be particularly painful for Bol to see his time of 1:47.66 after he ran a 1:47.01 in the heats — and a 1:45.51 at the world championships in Oregon last month.
Silver medalist Peter Bol was so close. Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images.Source: Getty ImagesPeter Bol did us proud. Picture: Michael Klein.Source: News Corp Australia
“Looking at the start list and there’s no front runners out there,” he said.
“So I just knew it was going to be tactical and I knew I just had to come home strong and that’s what I did so I’m happy with that.
“After the first lap, and I’ve been saying it, it’s so tactical… I saw 55 (seconds) and I said to myself, ‘Stay relaxed, stay relaxed’.
“Maybe in 20 more meters I could have got him. But it’s the 800m not the 820m.”
Bol looked like he was about to go up alongside Kinyamal with 50m to run, but he just didn’t have the legs to keep his charge going.
Bol, who became a cult hero en route to his fourth-placed finish at last year’s Olympic final, was hoping to become the first Australian in 40 years to win 800m gold.
“What an environment and atmosphere, so close but will take second today,” Bol told Channel 7. “I’m pretty happy with that, to be honest. It was a strange race again, super slow but the 800m is super tactical.
“I thought, stay relaxed, stay relaxed but he (Kinyamal) is so strong and kept going and going. It’s just racing, I raced the best I could and came up short but … silver medal in the Commonwealth Games, we are second which is really good.
Australian Peter Bol chases down winner Wyclife Kinyamal to win silver. Picture: Michael Klein.Source: News Corp Australia
“We speak of this journey and we have different people from different years, I want to say a massive thanks to my family, especially my parents… I’m so grateful for them. This is for them, this is for my family, this is for the country.
“There’s a kid out there with a Peter Bol sign so definitely for him. I have to go find him.”
Seven commentator Bruce McAvaney said the race started on a “sluggish” note and Tamsyn Manou agreed, adding: “It is slower than we would have liked.”
At the conclusion of the race, Manou said: “Peter Bol did everything he possibly could there, he got into the right position, he covered… when Kinyamal made that move.
“Peter has still done us proud. People expected him to win that gold but we are talking about an athlete (Kinyamal) who is the defending champion and there is nothing more Peter Bol could have done.
“I hope everyone in Australia is very proud of Peter Bol, because we certainly are.”
England’s Ben Pattison was third in 1:48.25sec.
Bol embarrassed the rest of the field in the heats of the men’s 800m with an imperious run on Wednesday. He then had four agonizing days to wait for Monday’s final.
The Olympics finalist won his heat and was the fastest overall qualifier despite pulling up with 50m still to run.
Bol last month had a disappointing run in the world championships final after he became the first Australian man to ever contest an 800m final at the World Champs.
Earlier, Abbey Caldwell produced a huge shock when she collected the bronze in the women’s 1500m. The 21-year-old just nudged out fellow Aussie Linden Hall.
NRL rising star Manase Fainu did not start a bloody brawl in a church parking lot but he “ended it” when he plunged a steak knife into the back of a youth leader, a court has been told.
Mr Fainu, 24, is fighting allegations that he stabbed Faamanu Levi in the back during a brawl outside a Mormon church dance nearly three years ago.
The Manly Sea Eagles hooker has pleaded not guilty to wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after Mr Levi was stabbed in the back near his shoulder blade and cut above his right eye.
Mr Fainu’s trial has entered its final stages, with Crown prosecutor Emma Curran using closing submissions on Tuesday to point to the evidence of one eyewitness who told the court that he had seen Mr Fainu stab Mr Levi.
Mr Fainu during his evidence said he played no part in the brawl, which took place between two parked cars in a parking lot at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Wattle Grove in Sydney’s southwest.
NRL player Manase Fainu says he played no part in a wild brawl in a church parking lot. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Christian GillesSource: News Corp Australia
During his evidence on Monday, Mr Fainu said he was approximately 10 to 12m from the fight between his friends and another group of men when he heard someone yell “knife, knife”.
He had undergone shoulder surgery a month earlier and on October 25, 2019, he had his left arm in a sling.
Tony Quach said he saw Mr Fainu stab his friend Mr Levi and was able to identify him by his sling.
During his evidence, Mr Quach said Mr Fainu had not started the fight but “he ended it” by stabbing Mr Levi.
“Manase Fainu jumped over a fence into the grounds of the church, he was with four of his friends and the group of them approached Mr Levi and his friends,” Ms Curran said.
“A brawl broke out and when things looked like they were getting out of hand, Mr Fainu pulled out a knife and plunged it into the back of Mr Levi, causing a wound that punctured his lung and caused internal bleeding.”
CCTV footage shows Manase Fainu jumping a fence into a Mormon church dance shortly before a wild brawl. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Mr Quach said he saw Mr Fainu with an angry look on his face and a knife in his right hand and his arm bent at a 90-degree angle.
It is not an issue that Mr Fainu was in the car park, his left arm was in a sling, and there was a brawl during which Mr Levi was stabbed before Mr Fainu scaled the wall once again and ran to his car.
However, the identity of Mr Levi’s attacker is in dispute.
Ms Curran said another man, Kupi Toilalo, said he saw a man approach him and his friends with his left arm in a sling holding a knife.
“When Kupi saw this, he was at arm’s length away from the person holding the knife, nothing obstructing his view,” Ms Curran said
Faamanu Levi was stabbed in the back following a brawl at a Mormon church dance. Picture: Shannon TonkinSource: SuppliedTony Quach said he saw Mr Fainu stab a man in the back. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Christian Gilles.Source: News Corp Australia
Mr Fainu told the jury on Monday that he was “scared” because he knew he could not defend himself if he became involved in the fight.
He denied brandishing a 10cm steak knife that was used to stab Mr Levi, saying he did not see any of his friends with a weapon on the night.
Mr Levi underwent surgery after the stab wound punctured his lung and caused internal bleeding.
Mr Fainu is fighting allegations he stabbed a church youth leader in the back. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles.Source: News Corp Australia
Mr Fainu said he went to the church because his friend Uona “Big Buck” Faingaa was seeking to recover money owed to him by a man.
The court was told that before the brawl, two of Mr Fainu’s friends were involved in an altercation on the dance floor and were asked to leave.
Mr Fainu said he left the church grounds as his mates were being escorted out, apologizing to a security guard on the way out.
CCTV footage showed Mr Fainu and four of his friends shortly afterwards jumping a fence from a Coles carpark back onto the church grounds.
Mr Fainu testified that he had told his friends that he would go inside to collect Mr Faingaa’s money by himself; however, they followed him over.
Defense barrister Margaret Cunneen SC said Mr Fainu had been identified as being present during the brawl because of the distinguishing nature of his sling, but all of the eyewitnesses were mistaken about him being the stabber.
“Mr Manase Fainu is a man who was never before in trouble for any violence whatsoever,” Ms Cunneen said.
“He did not stab Mr Levi. No one condom what happened to Mr Levi, it’s appalling.”
The jury will withdraw to consider its verdict after Ms Cunneen’s closing submissions.
The trial before Judge Nanette Williams continues.
Former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen, labeled the ‘slow finger of death’ by the media, has died in a car accident, a family member told AFP on Tuesday.
He was 73.
“Rudi suffered fatal injuries after an accident near Stilbaai between Cape Town and Gqeberha,” said the family spokesperson, who requested anonymity.
“My father went to a golf tournament with some friends and they were expected to come back on Monday, but it seems they decided to play another round of golf,” his son Rudi told a Gqeberha radio station.
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The South African team will wear black armbands on Wednesday in honor of Koertzen when they face England at Lord’s in London in a Test match.
Koertzen first umpired in 1981, handled his maiden international assignment 11 years later, and retired in 2010 after a Test between Australia and Pakistan in Leeds, England.
Rudi Koertzen and Ricky Ponting in 2009.Source: AFP
He became known as the ‘slow finger of death’ because he very slowly raising his finger whenever indicating a batsman was out.
“Every umpire has their trademark and that was mine. The media labeled it the ‘slow finger of death’ and I found that pretty interesting. There is a story behind it,” Koertzen said in an interview.
“When my umpiring career first began, I used to hold my hands in front of me and every time there was an appeal, I would fold them against my ribs,” said Koertzen.
“The someone told me ‘Rudi, you cannot do that. Every time you raise your hands to fold them, the bowler thinks you are going to give him a wicket’.
“So I started clasping my wrists at the back. The finger comes out slowly because it takes time for me to release my grasp at the back.”
Former South African cricket umpire Rudi Koertzen, labeled the ‘slow finger of death’, has died in a car accident aged 73.
“Rudi suffered fatal injuries after an accident near Stilbaai between Cape Town and Gqeberha,” said a family spokesman.
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“My father went to a golf tournament with some friends and they were expected to come back on Monday, but it seems they decided to play another round of golf,” his son Rudi told a Gqeberha radio station.
The South African team will wear black armbands on Wednesday in honor of Koertzen when they face England at Lord’s in London in a Test match.
Koertzen first umpired in 1981, handled his maiden international assignment 11 years later, and retired in 2010 after a Test between Australia and Pakistan in Leeds, England.
He became known as the ‘slow finger of death’ because he very slowly raising his finger whenever indicating a batsman was out.
His death rocked the cricket world.
Umpire and long-time colleague Aleem Dar paid tribute to Koertzen: “It is a very big loss forever for his family and then for South Africa and cricket. I stood in so many games with him. He was not only very good as an umpire but also an excellent colleague, always very cooperative on the field and also always willing to help off the field. Because of the way he was, he was also well respected by the players.”
Australian great Jason Gillespie wrote: “RIP Rudy- very good umpire, nice man. Thoughts are with his family and friends of him. ”
Indian star Virender Sehwag wrote: “Ok Rudi Koertzen! Om Shanti. Condolences to his family from him. Had a great relationship with him. Whenever I used to play a rash shot, he used to scold me saying, “Play sensibly, I want to watch your batting.”
“Every umpire has their trademark and that was mine. The media labeled it the ‘slow finger of death’ and I found that pretty interesting. There is a story behind it,” Koertzen said in an interview.
“When my umpiring career first began, I used to hold my hands in front of me and every time there was an appeal, I would fold them against my ribs.
“The someone told me ‘Rudi, you cannot do that. Every time you raise your hands to fold them, the bowler thinks you are going to give him a wicket’.
“So I started clasping my wrists at the back. The finger comes out slowly because it takes time for me to release my grasp at the back.”
Eels star Isaiah Papali’i’s push for a backflip from his $1.9 million Tigers deal has taken a fresh twist with reports he is also angling for a return to the Warriors.
Papali’i raised concerns about his Tigers deal after they sacked Michael Maguire, while the Eels have upped their offer in a bid to retain his services, but a potential return to the Warriors is the latest development in his contract saga.
“Isaiah Papali’i signed a contract with Michael Maguire at the helm at the Tigers and now with Madge not there he is certainly not committing to it,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
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“There is speculation about whether he will go or stay. I have not been convincing.”
Paul Kent believes the link to a return to the Warriors is a sign Papali’i is trying to make sure he does not end up at the Tigers at all costs.
“He hasn’t been convincing,” Kent said.
“Not only has he floated earlier in the year that he wants to stay at Parramatta, but it has also come out now that he is looking at a return to the Warriors, which is interesting.”
However, The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio believes the links to the Warriors deny the reason he wanted to backflip on the Tigers in the first place.
“That won’t eventuate because the Warriors are the only club that provides wriggle room for Papali’i to get out of the contract because it is the only feasible reason he could use, which is for personal reasons because his girlfriend still lives in New Zealand,” Riccio said.
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Isaiah Papali’I wants to get out of his deal with the Tigers.Source: Getty Images
“That’s not the reason he wants to leave the Tigers. The reason he wants to leave the Tigers is because he wants to stay at Parramatta.
“His angst isn’t with . . . it is not about going home to the Warriors and New Zealand. It is about staying at Parramatta.”
However, Kent believes if the Warriors were able to meet his financial demands, then he could also return to the Warriors for family reasons and leave both the Eels and the Tigers in the lurch.
“That is true but if the Warriors now do come in with a late offer?” Kent questioned.
“Or is it about not going to the Tigers?”
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Isaiah Papali’I wants to stay at the Eels.Source: News Corp Australia
Paul Crawley believes Papali’i can only blame himself for signing with the Tigers, who have a history of sacking coaches.
“If he has any angst it should be with himself and his management,” Crawley said.
“I have signed with the Tigers. I have signed with a club that changes coaches almost annually.
“He took the big money on offer. Yes Michael Maguire was the coach, but the Tigers have gone through four coaches in the last 10 years. It shouldn’t come as any great surprise.
“The Tigers have got to hold their ground on this.”
However, Paul Kent and Braith Anasta pointed out that sometimes the coach is the main reason for players signing with clubs.
“Players sign with coaches,” Kent said.
“My take on this is different because when I first heard this I thought, I have not got to honor his contract,” Anasta said.
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“Then I had to think about it myself and I was in a very similar situation.
“It was the Tigers, but it could have been any club, where I signed at that club and Tim Sheens was the coach.
“He signed me for a specific reason. He wanted a certain something out of me in terms of leadership and direction with a few players there and he made the sell to me.
“He was the coach and the Australian coach and I wanted to play under Tim Sheens. That was the only reason I signed. The sole reason I signed.
“Then he got sacked a few weeks later. I honored the contract, but now I look back at it and I think it was a poor decision from me.
“If I had my time over it would have been in the best interests of me and the club not to go there because it wasn’t the right fit.
“I was taking hit ups off taps, which is one thing, but what I’m trying to say is if he doesn’t want to go there and he only went there because a coach wanted him for a specific role to play his part in that team.
“Sometimes motivation is solely because of the coach.
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“But if he has got the Warriors involved that is taking the piss because that to me is him just saying, I don’t want to go to the Tigers.”
Kent believes the Tigers are being hypocritical of Papali’i breaking his contract when they broke Michael Maguire’s in sacking him.
“The flip side for the Tigers is when they signed him (Papali’i), they had Michael Maguire as their contracted coach,” Kent said.
“They are happy to sack Maguire and break that contract, which then breaks the terms or understanding that was there with Papali’i.”
Regardless, Kent believes Papali’i’s inability to commit fully to the Tigers means the club needs to act fast to ensure their own best interests.
“Even yesterday when he spoke and he was very noncommittal and at one point he said, look I’ll just wait until November and sort it out then,” Kent said.
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“Now the Tigers have got every right to say hang on, you have got to figure out what is going on.
“They have got a salary cap to manage. They can’t sit there and wait for this guy until November.”
Riccio believes the Tigers are better off cutting their losses with Papali’i because he clearly isn’t committed to the club’s new vision for the future under Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall.
“That’s why the Tigers should move on now and use Papali’i’s money before it gets too late,” Riccio said.
“If they wait until November they won’t be able to use their money.
“The Tigers are at a critical point in their history. This is a turning point for the Wests Tigers club under Tim Sheens and the future under Benji Marshall.
“What do we stand for? What is our culture? Who do we want here? That’s all I’ve heard about what it is going to be like under Sheens and Marshall. We want players who want to represent the Wests Tigers and who want to be there.
“Have we heard Isaiah Papali’i say once, I cannot wait to get to the Wests Tigers?”
The brilliant contribution of Sydney and Fremantle’s young guns to their respective teams’ surges up the ladder this year have been recognised, with the two clubs making up a quarter of this year’s 22under22 squad.
The AFL Players’ Association on Tuesday night released the 40-man squad for the 10th edition of the 22under22 team, which recognized the best players aged 22 and under in a season.
Sydney, which sits fourth on the ladder, boasts a competition-high six nominations, while five players from the sixth-placed Dockers are in the mix for final selection.
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Nick Blakey, Tom McCartin, Chad Warner, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney and Errol Gulden from the Swans have all been nominated, while Dockers young guns Hayden Young, Jordan Clark, Andy Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Michael Frederick are all in line to be named in the final 22under22 team.
Remarkably, Serong is in line to be selected in the final 22 for the first time, despite his impressive first two seasons that included the Rising Star award in 2020.
Surprise packets Collingwood has four nominees (Isaac Quaynor, Nathan Murphy, Nick Daicos and Jack Ginnivan) as does Melbourne (Harry Petty, James Jordon, Kysaiah Pickett and Luke Jackson).
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Daicos, the odds-on Rising Star favourite, has is one of only two first-year players in the squad of 40, with Essendon’s Nic Martin the other. Hawks midfielder Jai Newcombe was nominated just over 12 months after he was picked up in the mid-season draft.
Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton and Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh are looking to be selected for a fourth time in their final year of eligibility. If selected, they’ll join Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli (five selections) and Bombers defender Andy McGrath as the only players to have completed the feat.
Brayshaw, Adam Cerra, Bailey Smith and Max King are looking to be selected for a third time.
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Overall, 17 of the 18 clubs are represented in the squad, with no West Coast player in the squad.
The final 22-man team, which will derive from the squad of 40, will be announced online on August 23.
Players must have played at least 11 games in a year and be aged 22 and under for the entirety of the season, including the finals series, to be eligible for 22under22 selection.
Fans can vote on the 22under22 side by tapping here, with voting closing on Wednesday August 17.
THE 22UNDER22 SQUAD OF 40 FOR 2022
Adelaide Crows – 2: Sam Berry (midfield/wing), Darcy Fogarty (forward)
Carlton – 2: Adam Cerra (midfield/wing), Sam Walsh (midfield)
Collingwood – 4: Isaac Quaynor (defender), Nathan Murphy (defender), Nick Daicos (defender), Jack Ginnivan (forward)
Essendon – 1: Nic Martin (forward)
Fremantle – 5: Hayden Young (defender), Jordan Clark (defender), Andy Brayshaw (midfield), Caleb Serong (midfield), Michael Frederick (forward)
Geelong Cats – 1: Sam De Koning (defender)
Gold Coast Suns – 3: Noah Anderson (midfield), Matt Rowell (midfield), Izak Rankine (forward)
GWS Giants – 1: Tom Green (midfield)
Hawthorn – 1: Jai Newcombe (midfield)
Melbourne – 4: Harry Petty (defender), James Jordon (midfield/wing), Kysaiah Pickett (forward), Luke Jackson (ruck)
North Melbourne—1: Bailey Scott (defender)
Port Adelaide – 2: Connor Rozee (midfield/forward), Zak Butters (midfield/forward)
Richmond – 1: Noah Balta (ruck/forward)
St Kilda – 1: Max King (forward)
Sydney Swans – 6: Nick Blakey (defender), Tom McCartin (defender), Chad Warner (midfield), James Rowbottom (midfield), Justin McInerney (midfield/wing), Errol Gulden (forward/midfield)
West Coast Eagles-0
Western Bulldogs – 3: Bailey Smith (midfield), Aaron Naughton (forward), Cody Weightman (forward)
The electricity crisis caused EnergyAustralia to suffer a whopping $1.6 billion loss for the first half of the year as the company battled with “extreme” conditions in the market.
The Melbourne-based company, owned by Hong Kong’s CLP Group, also warned that household power bills would continue to face pressure due to ongoing volatility in global fuel prices.
The mega loss experienced by the third biggest energy retailer was in stark contrast to last year when it recorded a $146 million profit.
The chief executive of parent company CLP Group, Richard Lancaster, said it would be “proactive” in seeking out partnerships for EnergyAustralia to transition to low-carbon energy.
Six weeks before the loss was reported, the company had issued a profit warning to the market.
On Monday, it revealed its earning had taken a huge hit as it was forced to buy up expensive supplies to meet customer demand amid “unprecedented market volatility”.
Shortfalls in energy production from its Yallourn and Mount Piper coal plants was one of the main reasons it had to shell out more money for supplies.
Its Yallourn plant in particular was hit by delays due to a fire on a coal conveyancer system and recurring maintenance issues, according to CLP Group.
However, the outlook on pricing continued to be bad, according to the company.
“Volatility in spot prices in response to weather variations and changes in supply and demand looks set to continue amid the net-zero transition in Australia,” CLP Group said.
However, EnergyAustralia’s competitors, AGL Energy and Origin Energy, have also sounded the alarm about profits due to issues such as coal power outages and supply problems at some plants.
Mr Lancaster said while the last six months were not representative of the market in general, volatility was something to expect in Australia.
Last month, the credit agency Standard & Poor (S&P) warned EnergyAustralia could be at risk of breaching one of its loans and suggested it may need financial assistance from its parent company.
EnergyAustralia signed a $1 billion credit facility in July to provide a bigger financial buffer for its operations, with S&P giving it a negative outlook due to its weakening credit position.
In its half yearly report, EnergyAustralia said it would “continue to strengthen its capital structure to fund its current and future investment needs, providing the reliable supply needed to support customer demand and the transition to a lower-carbon power market”.
But other retailers going under – with a spate collapsing including Byron Bay community-owned electricity provider Enova, Victorian provider Electricityinabox, LPE, Discover, Elysian and Future X – was a win for EnergyAustralia, which saw its customer base leap to 2.45 million.
EnergyAustralia said it had plans in place for the rest of the year to ensure electricity supply.
“Additional short-term coal and gas purchases have been made to enable EnergyAustralia’s power stations to support customers and the broader energy market in the second half,” CLP said.
Ben Simmons’ rocky NBA career has taken another turn after the Brooklyn Nets guard reportedly left a players group chat before a decisive playoff game last season.
Simmons was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft but found himself locked in a standoff with the franchise after demanding a trade.
The Australian was eventually dealt to the Nets as part of a package for All-Star guard James Harden, and was expected to don his new colors for the first time in the playoffs.
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The Athletic reported in April that Simmons was set to debut for Brooklyn in Game Four, during the first round of the playoffs.
Brooklyn were already down 3-0 to the eventual Eastern Conference champions Boston Celtics when he pulled out with back soreness.
But renowned NBA analyst Ric Bucher has made a stunning revelation about Simmons, saying that he left a players group chat without saying a word before Game Four.
“They’re having a team chat before Game four, thinking he’s going to play against the Celtics, and from what I’m told, Ben just left the chat,” Bucher told Colin Cowherd on The Herd.
“They asked him, ‘Are you going to play?’ Ben left the chat. Like he didn’t even answer the question. He just left the chat.”
Dad UP for Bronny James alley-oop! | 00:21
The 26-year-old required surgery in March on his lower back after withdrawing from that crucial playoff clash with the Celtics.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Simmons needed back surgery after experiencing “pain soreness” the day before the Nets were eventually eliminated.
“Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons will require three to four months of rehabilitation after undergoing back surgery, but is expected to be fully recovered to return to the court well ahead of pre-season training camp in September, sources told ESPN on Wednesday,” Wojnarowski wrote.
“The decision to undergo the surgery was reached after ‘consultation with multiple back specialists,’ the team said Wednesday.”
Simmons said that mental health was the reason behind his ugly exit from Philadelphia, as he opened up on his “dark times.”
However, sports radio host Ben Maller believed that it was just an excuse for the Melbourne-born talent to leave the Sixers.
“Ben Simmons in Philadelphia was a charlatan, a fake, a phony and a fraud,” Maller said on Fox Sports Radio in February
“This guy has been hiding behind the mental health card playing it from the bottom of the deck, knowing that it makes you untouchable in a polite society.
“The establishment media are afraid of even slightly criticizing someone who makes this claim, like Ben Simmons.”
