Get App
Origin hot water bills explained
22 Nov 2024
Key points.
- Origin Energy provides hot water services for residences and is responsible for quarterly billing based on water meter readings they conduct.
- Your Origin water bill may be higher due to factors such as increased usage, rising supply and usage charges and an estimated meter reading.
- If you live in an apartment complex with a shared hot water system, you cannot choose your preferred hot water provider unless you move out.
If you live in an apartment complex, it’s likely that you have ‘centralised’ or ‘bulk’ hot water. The building’s body corporate or management will typically select the supplier and in many cases, this is Origin – one of Australia’s largest energy retailers.
Read on to learn all you need to know about Origin Energy’s hot water service and billing system. We also dissect an Origin hot water bill to highlight the key parts that you should be aware of.
On this page:
What is bulk hot water?
Bulk hot water is an arrangement whereby residents in a multi-tenant complex share one large hot water system. The body corporate is in charge of finding a bulk hot water supplier, and this bulk provider is in charge of hot water maintenance, meter monitoring and customer billing. Each residence has its own hot water meter, meaning customers are only billed for their own water usage – not the usage of their neighbours.
Origin is one of the largest bulk hot water suppliers in Australia.
Origin Energy hot water services
Origin Energy offers a range of hot water services for houses, townhouses, units and apartments. As mentioned, Origin Energy is responsible for reading apartment customers’ water meters and issuing their bill – usually once every three months.
Your hot water bill is separate to your electricity or natural gas bill. However, those bills do not factor in the energy it costs to heat up your water so as to ensure you’re not double-charged.
Although Origin Energy previously sold and installed hot water systems, this service is currently unavailable to customers.
Origin hot water bills explained
If you have never lived in an apartment before hot water bills might seem to be foreign. Fortunately, Origin Energy bills are pretty straightforward once you understand what to look for. Below we have a sample Origin hot water bill from an apartment resident. Underneath the image is an explanation of the bill corresponding with each of the numbered components.
1. Account details: This section contains your customer number, invoice number, issue date and total amount due.
2. Due date: The date the payment is due. In the case of a direct debit, your account will be billed on this day.
3. Tax invoice account summary: A summation of the net invoice total or the amount due. This features the balance brought forward, less payments, any new charges and any other adjustments since your previous bill.
4. Important information: This notice relates to your account or invoice.
5. How to pay: Various payment options, featuring instructions, codes and additional fees that may apply.
6. Payments and adjustments: Displays any payment or credit applied to your account since the last invoice.
7. Total charges: A summation of the period’s meter read information and the location. This section features the present reading, the previous reading, the metered volume, a correction factor, correction volume, as well as the supply rate per litre and any metered supply charge.
8. Origin contact: Details to contact Origin Energy.
Can I switch bulk hot water providers?
No, it is generally the case that you are unable to switch hot water providers if you live in an apartment. As you share your hot water system with other residents, it is up to the body corporate to select a bulk hot water provider.
If you have an issue with Origin or another hot water supplier, be sure to raise it with your body corporate and they may be able to assist you.
Origin hot water prices
Most centralised hot water systems use natural gas. Natural gas hot water systems are generally much cheaper to run than their electric counterparts, costing customers only a few cents per megajoule of gas.
In addition to usage costs, hot water customers are also billed a ‘supply charge’, which is a daily fixed fee that is designed to reflect the cost of transporting the gas to your property for water heating. The exact rates you pay will vary depending on your location and the deal that your building manager is able to strike with Origin.
Compare natural gas prices
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for NSW. These estimated annual costs are based on the Jemena Gas Network in Sydney and yearly gas usage of 18,800 MJ/year, but prices will vary depending on your own circumstances. The products are listed in order of lowest estimated price/year (including conditional discounts), then by the highest value rank (out of 10), then by highest brand satisfaction rating. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Outstanding Value - Gas Plans NSW
Distributed By Jemena Gas
Distributed By Jemena Gas
Distributed By Jemena Gas
Distributed By Jemena Gas
Distributed By Jemena Gas
Distributed By Jemena Gas
Distributed By Jemena Gas
Outstanding Value - Gas Plans NSW
Distributed By Jemena Gas
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the AGN – VIC network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 40,500 MJ/year, but prices will vary depending on your own circumstances. The products are listed in order of lowest estimated price/year (including conditional discounts), then by the highest value rank (out of 10), then by highest brand satisfaction rating. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Distributed By AGN - Vic
PROMOTED
Outstanding Value - Gas Plans VIC
Distributed By AGN - Vic
Distributed By AGN - Vic
Distributed By AGN - Vic
Distributed By AGN - Vic
Distributed By AGN - Vic
Distributed By AGN - Vic
Distributed By AGN - Vic
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for QLD. These estimated annual costs are based on the AGN – QLD in Brisbane and yearly gas usage of 8,300 MJ/year, but prices will vary depending on your own circumstances. The products are listed in order of lowest estimated price/year (including conditional discounts), then by the highest value rank (out of 10), then by highest brand satisfaction rating. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Distributed By AGN - QLD
PROMOTED
Outstanding Value - Gas Plans QLD
Distributed By AGN - QLD
Outstanding Value - Gas Plans QLD
Distributed By AGN - QLD
Distributed By AGN - QLD
Distributed By AGN - QLD
Distributed By AGN - QLD
Distributed By AGN - QLD
Distributed By AGN - QLD
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for SA. These estimated annual costs are based on the AGN – SA network in Adelaide and yearly gas usage of 14,800 MJ/year, but prices will vary depending on your own circumstances. The products are listed in order of lowest estimated price/year (including conditional discounts), then by the highest value rank (out of 10), then by highest brand satisfaction rating. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Distributed By AGN - SA
PROMOTED
Distributed By AGN - SA
Distributed By AGN - SA
Distributed By AGN - SA
Distributed By AGN - SA
Distributed By AGN - SA
Distributed By AGN - SA
Distributed By AGN - SA
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for WA. These estimated annual costs are based on the ATCO network in Perth and yearly gas usage of 6,300 units/year, but prices will vary depending on your own circumstances. The products are listed in order of lowest estimated price/year (including conditional discounts), then by the highest value rank (out of 10), then by highest brand satisfaction rating. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Distributed By ATCO
PROMOTED
Distributed By ATCO
PROMOTED
Distributed By ATCO
Distributed By ATCO
Outstanding Value - Gas Plans WA
Distributed By ATCO
Distributed By ATCO
Distributed By ATCO
Distributed By ATCO
Why is my Origin hot water bill high?
There are several reasons why your Origin hot water bill is higher than expected. The most obvious and simple explanation is that you’ve used more hot water than in the previous billing period – this could be due to seasonal changes (e.g. going into winter), more people in the household, or the installation of new, less efficient appliances. There may also be a fault or leak somewhere which is leading to more water usage.
A higher bill could also be due to changes in the usage or supply rates, although you can check this against previous bills. You may also have been given an estimated meter reading, which is based on the average usage in your home the previous year- if this is the case, you’ll see an ‘E’ for estimated on your bill.
Ultimately, your first step in resolving a suspiciously-high bulk hot water bill is to speak to your body corporate.
Can I go on an Origin hot water system payment plan?
Origin Energy offers energy use payment plans to eligible customers, which allow you to pay for your usage in instalments – similar to bill smoothing. Bulk and centralised hot water users will need to contact Origin for more information.
Are Origin hot water systems a good deal?
Centralised hot water is an incredibly convenient arrangement – all of your hot water needs are sorted and you don’t need to lift a finger. The downside is that you have no say about who supplies your hot water.
If your apartment is signed up to Origin and you’re adamant on shopping around, then your only option may be to move out. With that said, some Australian state governments are considering ways of improving utilities competition for multi-tenant residences, so a future where apartment customers have free reign of their hot water might not be far off.
Original author: Brendon O’Neill
- Key points.
- What is bulk hot water?
- Origin Energy hot water services
- Origin hot water bills explained
- Can I switch bulk hot water providers?
- Origin hot water prices
- Compare natural gas prices
- Why is my Origin hot water bill high?
- Can I go on an Origin hot water system payment plan?
- Are Origin hot water systems a good deal?
