Huge electricity shock as EnergyAustralia bills to jump by $261 a year

ANOTHER 80,000 South Australian households will be hit with a $261 average annual increase in electricity bills, after a third company announced increases.

Electricity is fast becoming a drain on our wallets. Source: iStock

ANOTHER 80,000 South Australian households will be hit with a $261 average annual increase in electricity bills, after a third company announced increases.

EnergyAustralia told The Advertiser it would increase bills by a monthly average of $22 from July for its customer base, which is 12 per cent of the state’s market.

AGL announced this week it would increase prices by $228 a year on average, and Origin followed with a $117 annual increase, prompting a chorus of protest from welfare agencies.

UnitingCommunities utilities expert Mark Henley said the EnergyAustralia increase had been expected following a decision by AGL but it was “very disappointing” that the hike would be even higher.

“This is very disappointing for consumers, and there is no decent justification of this increase,’’ he said.

“I have UK data showing that Australia has the third-lowest level of energy company trust of a heap of countries.

“Only South Africa and the UK have lower trust levels. Retailers need to better explain cost increases or risk even further loss of customer trust.’’

In better news, those who are sold gas by EnergyAustralia will have a price drop.

“Gas prices will decrease by around $94 for the year,” a spokeswoman said.

She blamed rising generation, metering and general business costs for the electricity price increases, but credited reduced network distribution costs for the cheaper gas.

However, customers can avoid paying around $7 each year in new paperwork costs if they pay their EnergyAustralia bills online.

“EnergyAustralia is encouraging customers to accept electronic bills from November 1 to avoid charges for paper bills,’’ the spokeswoman said.

“Vulnerable customers, such as concession card holders, pensioners and those in hardship programs, would be exempt from paying for paper bills.’’

Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has urged customers to shop around for better prices in the deregulated electricity market. But the Opposition has blamed the State Government for the increases, citing the promotion of more expensive wind power as the cause.

Meanwhile, AGL has refused to release figures showing how much more its customers who do not have solar panels would pay after its price increases.

One welfare expert, who wished to remain nameless, said AGL was hiding a much larger bill shock, releasing only the average increase of $228 for all customers.

He said AGL knew that this hid the extent of the bill increase for those who could not afford solar panels.