EnergyAustralia hikes NSW power bills further than rivals AGL and Origin

The second-largest power retailer will jack up NSW electricity prices by 17.9 per cent — even more than its main rivals AGL and Origin. Here’s what it could cost you.

Three quarters of NSW households now face paying hundreds of dollars more for electricity this financial year after EnergyAustralia became the third power giant to dramatically hike NSW prices.

The state’s second-largest electricity retailer on Tuesday said it would push through an average increase of 17.9 per cent from August 1, which will cost the typical household $362 annually. Small businesses will confront an average jump of 12.3 per cent.

EA’s gas prices for households will rise by 8.9 per cent in NSW, adding $82 a year to bills.

EA has more than 800,000 residential and small business customers in NSW; only Origin has more.

Origin, which has about one million customers in NSW, last month said it was raising prices by 14 per cent or about $270 a year for the average customer.

The price increases were announced by EA’s Mark Brownfield. Picture: Adam Elwood

Meanwhile third-ranked AGL is slugging its customers with an average hike of 17.5 per cent, which equates to a near $300 a year lift in the average bill. AGL is putting up its gas prices by 8.8 per cent, or $73 annually.

EA chief customer officer Mark Brownfield said “these changes reflect the more than doubling of wholesale electricity and gas costs that we pay to supply our customers.”

Mr Brownfield said EA was “there to offer support if anyone believes they will be unable to meet their energy costs in light of (this) reprice announcement.”

“We can provide tailored support through payment plans, extensions, a stay-connected guarantee and access to cashflow assistance for small businesses.”

In Victoria, EA electricity prices will rise by 5.5 per cent or $111 a year on average; for South Australians, the surge will be 14.9 per cent or $312 annually; Queenslanders can expect a jump of 18.9 per cent or $367, while in the ACT, the hike will be 13.3 per cent or $259 annually.