Redfern Convenience Store owner Hazem Sedda shocked by Energy Australia’s power bill after it more than doubled in a year
- Owner of a famous convenience store surprised by the electricity bill
- Charged more than $10,000 for electricity during the month of July
A convenience store owner was left in shock after he was hit with a massive energy bill that was double what he received at the same time last year.
Hazem Sedda, owner of Redfern Convenience Store, in Sydney’s inner south, was stunned after receiving a bill for $10,369 in August.
Sedda shared a photo of the bill on Instagram Friday calling it crazy and comparing it to a much cheaper $4,306 bill he received in August 2022.
Its power provider, Energy Australia, was one of many that increased its prices as increases in inflation and wholesale electricity costs were cited as the main reasons behind the increases.
Celebrity Redfern convenience store owner Hazem Sedda (center) was shocked after he was charged more than $10,000 in electricity costs in July.
Writing to his fans on Instagram, Mr. Sedda wrote that his store’s electricity costs had more than doubled despite efforts to reduce production.
“During the same period last year, in August 2022, the convenience store’s electric bill came to a reasonable $4,306.39,” he wrote.
‘However, this year’s August bill has dealt a staggering blow, reaching a staggering $10,369.79.
“This drastic increase in costs is particularly concerning, especially considering the current winter season and the store’s deliberate avoidance of energy-intensive appliances such as air conditioning units.”
The bill also came at a time when Mr Sedda is in the process of opening a second store in Newtown, at the corner of King St and Missenden Road.
His shop has become famous for selling otherwise hard-to-find popsicles and snacks abroad, or limited-edition flavors.
Customers also flock to the store to meet Mr. Sedda, who has carved his way into a fan base thanks to his jubilant personality and boundless positivity.
Taking his surprise to Instagram, Mr. Sedda compared his $10,369 bill from July to a bill from the same period a year earlier that only set him back a “reasonable” $4,306.
Mr. Sedda claims he made a conscious effort during July to use as little electricity as possible at the convenience store (pictured)
Energy Australia increased its rates on its BasicHome and BasicBusiness plan in NSW in July and August.
The power supplier stated that the increase was “equivalent to the Default Market Offer (DMO) which is set and reviewed by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) annually and changes each year in July.”
The AER said the DMO increases were mainly due to increases in wholesale electricity costs.
“We know that households and small businesses continue to face cost-of-living pressures on many fronts, and that’s why it’s important that the DMO provide a safety net for those who might not have looked for a better energy deal,” said the AER President Clare Savage. she said she in March.
“By setting DMO pricing this year, we seek to protect consumers from unreasonably high prices while allowing retailers to offer consumers better deals than their standard plans.”
