Cash-strapped households should not expect much relief to come from lower power bills this year, with some experts predicting consumer prices will climb by up to 5 per cent when the annual tariff reset comes in July.

The Australian Energy Regulator was due to release its draft ruling on standing tariffs for electricity on Thursday amid expectations current prices will be largely maintained, if not increased modestly, amid stubbornly robust wholesale prices and mounting spending on “poles and wires”.