The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is calling for an urgent and comprehensive review of consumer assistance measures following the 18% average increase to electricity prices announced today by the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
‘Consumers will struggle to absorb these price rises,’ said Carolyn Hodge, the senior policy officer for PIAC’s Energy + Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program.
‘Today’s IPART announcement means that households face average increases of between $208 and $427 per year. The rate at which electricity prices are rising is a major concern, especially for vulnerable consumers,’ Ms Hodge said.
‘Large price increases have become a regular feature of the energy market, outstripping increases to traditional energy rebates or emergency assistance schemes.
‘The Low Income Household Rebate, for example, will rise by $15 on 1 July 2012, while average electricity bills will rise by between $208 and $427 per year.
‘PIAC welcomes the increases to energy rebates and emergency assistance that were announced in the NSW State budget yesterday.
‘However, an urgent and comprehensive review of assistance measures is now needed.
‘We need this review to identify the best ways to assist consumers, including those rural and regional households who face the highest electricity prices in NSW,’ Ms Hodge said.