Electricity prices on the rise

PREPARE to spend winter huddled around the wood fire – electricity prices are on the rise again.

PREPARE to spend winter huddled around the wood fire - electricity prices are on the rise again.

The latest figures from the Queensland Competition Authority estimate electricity bills to increase by 19.7% for a family of four in the next financial year.

Residents have already been feeling the pinch.

Glen Aplin property owner Kevin Morris said his electricity bill had doubled over the past five years.

"When we first started here, our bill was around $200," he said.

"Now it's up to about $400."

Mr Morris employed the services of The Big Switch to try to find a better deal, but with Ergon Energy the only provider to the area, he was told he did not have many options.

"Once again, the country gets the raw end of the deal," he said.

Mr Morris is trialling a gas hot water system to cut electricity costs.

"I thought about solar, but a couple of people we spoke to said the area is cloudy for two thirds of the year, so you have to use a back-up system," he said. "It would probably take about 10 years to recoup the costs."

Ergon Energy spokesman Rod Rehbein said there were ways for customers to cut costs, including "two cash-back offers to assist them to switch to economy tariffs for their pool pumps and hot water systems".

On July 1 2012 the QCA introduced a cheaper voluntary, time-of-use tariff that may be available to some households, depending on the type of metering installed.

To see how you can save, visit ergon.com.au and click 'Save on your bill' under the 'our Home' tab.

Originally published as Electricity prices on the rise