The Tasmanian Economic Regulator has approved Aurora Energy’s proposed price rise

More bill pain is on the way for Tasmanians with electricity and water going up again on July 1. See how much more you can expect to pay >>

Tasmanian electricity bills will go up another 9.5 per cent from July 1 following a price rise approved by the economic regulator.

The increase follows a price rise of 11.88 per cent last year.

“The price increases have been driven by external factors, particularly wholesale electricity costs which are 24.8 per cent higher than in 2022-23 and account for more than 8 percentage points of the 9.51 per cent price increase,” said Tasmanian Economic Regulator Joe Dimasi.

Mr Dimasi said the price rises would cause the average Tasmanian household bill to increase by around $200 a year.

He said Tasmanian bills would remain among the lowest in the nation.

Water bills will also go up 3.5 per cent from July under TasWater’s four-year price and service plan.

The plan released last year allows for 3.5 per cent price increases each year to 2026 — a total increase of 14 per cent over four years.

Electricity bills are going up again.

TasCOSS CEO Adrienne Picone said the increase would be the final straw for many household budgets already at breaking point.

“TasCOSS is calling for more direct intervention from the government by capping electricity prices to protect Tasmanian customers from price volatility in the National Energy Market (NEM),” Ms Picone said.

“A cap on electricity prices has been done before by this government in 2018 and we know it works.”

Labor has repeatedly called for the state government to step in and cap electricity price rises at 2.5 per cent per year.

The state government has rejected the proposal as flawed and unbudgeted, instead focussing on targeted bill relief for people most in need.

Anticipating the price rise announcement, Energy Minister Guy Barnett told state parliament Tasmania compared favourably with other states.

Interstate, electricity bills are due to rise between 20 and 25 per cent.

“We have among the lowest regulated electricity prices for both households and small business,” Mr Barnett said.

“We have amongst the most generous concessions in Australia.”

In state parliament on Wednesday Labor moved a censure motion against Mr Barnett over electricity prices.