Liam McNally
Combined electric and gas energy bills in Melton and Moorabool have increased an average of $775 in a year, according to St Vincent de Paul Society’s Tariff Tracker.
St Vincent de Paul Society has been tracking energy prices in Australia since 2008. Its most recent report, released in September, found energy bills for dual-fuel households in Melton and Moorabool were up $775 to an average of $4,140 per year.
For all-electric households, the average annual energy bill is $2,315.
St Vincent de Paul Society policy and research manager Gavin Dufty said that the annual prices in the latest report were the highest ever, and the increase was among the steepest.
“We’re in pretty well uncharted territory,” he said.
“These increases really hit hard in the outer-west, the reason for that is those communities have higher housing costs… because they’re commuter suburbs you’ve got higher transport costs… lots of young families… they’re getting smashed everywhere and this is not helpful,” he said.
“We have seen an increase in people presenting for assistance, and new groups that have never presented seeking help before, people that have got wages and salaries are turning up.”
Electricity in Melton and Moorabool is delivered by Powercor, while gas is delivered by Ausnet.
The highest average increase in the state was $810 for households in the La Trobe Valley and the Gippsland region, where electricity is delivered by AGN and gas is delivered by Origin.
Rehmat Sandhu Foundation founder and president Ravinder Kaur was not surprised by the figures.
“We see first-hand daily the struggle families are having in paying energy bills and making ends meet. People are really struggling, and the cost of gas is outrageous,” she said.
“We have been inundated with requests for assistance. Sadly, due to financial constraints, we cannot help everyone. People are suffering.
“These increases only hurt families who must choose whether to put food on the table and have heating or cut things like going to the movies or the kids playing sport.”
Mr Dufty said the steep price increases are due to wholesale price increases, caused by a number of factors including war in Ukraine.
Ms Kaur said to address the issue inflation needs to be brought down, but Victoria’s energy price-woes stretch back some time.
“The Kennett Government should not have been allowed to sell our gas and electricity resources to private companies. This has been a monumental failure for Victoria and now families are paying the price,” she said.
Mr Dufty said the first port-of-call for anyone struggling with their energy bills should be to contact their provider.
“If anybody is in strife with utility bills, the energy providers are obliged to help people under their licences. Call early for help and they have to give it,” he said.
Ms Kaur said those with healthcare cards or pension cards can apply for the Victorian Utility Relief Grant Scheme, and people should shop around for the best energy prices on the government’s compare website.
Details: compare.energy.vic.gov.au/
