What to expect to pay for your winter electricity bill
<p>EnergyAustralia has estimated the cost of an average customer’s winter power bill.</p>
<p>The figures are only an estimate of the charge over the winter months from June to August and can be impacted by which distribution zone a customer lives in, their tariff and actual consumption.</p>
<p>The winter bill, generally due in October, is known for being the biggest bill households face.</p>
<p>“Historical consumption records show households use almost a third of their annual electricity demand in winter and could be paying around 40 per cent more for electricity during winter compared with summer,” EnergyAustralia chief customer officer, Kim Clarke, told news.com.au.</p>
<p>The EnergyAustralia figures reveal that price increases vary between states with the average customer in NSW looking at a 24 per cent increase to their winter bill while those in Victoria will see an 8 per cent increase on average.</p>
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<p>The calculations differ from the estimated yearly increases EnergyAustralia released which suggests a 19.6 per cent rise in NSW and South Australia prices, and 7.3 per cent rise in Queensland.</p>
<p>Customers can check their estimated yearly costs and compare prices using the government-funded <a href="https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Energy Made Easier</span> </strong></a>website.</p>
<p>iSelect has released the results of a national Galaxy Research study that reveals that 9 out of 10 Australians were concerned about their upcoming winter bill.</p>
<p>The survey found that an extra half a million households were likely to be concerned about their winter energy bill compared to last year.</p>
<p>“More Australian households are worried about their energy bill this winter than last year, no doubt partly due to the latest price hikes in July which will see customers in NSW, South Australia and parts of Queensland paying up to 20 per cent more,” iSelect spokeswoman Laura Crowden said.</p>
<p>50 per cent of households in the study admitted they were dining out less to budget for their energy costs and 43 per cent were cutting back on holidays.</p>
<p>27 per cent said they were cutting back on groceries to pay their energy bills and less than 25 per cent of respondents said they were able to pay their energy bills easily.</p>
<p>“These figures confirm our beliefs that Aussies are struggling more and more with energy prices and are having to cut back around the home in order to pay their energy bills,” Ms Crowden said.</p>
<p>Many customers have taken to Facebook to share stories about errors in their energy bills and dramatic price increases.</p>
<p>One woman wrote, “My bill has gone from $175 to $298 in 2 months with just 2 of us here... Can understand why so many people are becoming homeless as you just cannot survive anymore... Shame on this government.”</p>
<p>Another user said, “I vacuumed a house twice that's been empty for 5 months and received a $287.56 bill.”</p>
<p>The ACCC is investigating energy prices in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and ACT, due to claims of price gouging by retailers.</p>
