(Picture/"Herald Sun")
[Compiled report by Australian Network] Energy giant AGL announced that starting from August 1, electricity prices in Victoria will increase by an average of 5.6% annually, while electricity prices in New South Wales will increase by an average of 17.5% annually. In addition, gas prices in NSW will also increase by 8.8%.
Victoria’s electricity and water bills will rise
The Herald Sun reported on the 29th that starting from August 1, the average electricity bill for AGL’s customers in Victoria increased by 5.6%, with annual expenditures increasing by approximately AU$80. However, AGL stated that there will be no adjustments to the price of natural gas in Victoria for the time being.
Other large energy companies such as Australian Energy and Origin have yet to announce new prices. Among them, although Origin has announced prices for other states and territories, prices in Victoria have not yet been announced. 85% of Victoria AGL's electricity customers use market quotations, which are usually cheaper and fluctuate more regularly.
The Essential Services Commission (The Essential Services Commission) is about to determine new prices for the state's 18 water companies. Although prices fell last year, inflation this year will cause prices to rise, thereby increasing pressure on the cost of living.
Melbourne Residents will only feel a small increase in their water bills because bulk water charges have fallen and less desalinated water will be ordered this financial year. Marcus Crudden, director of pricing at the Essential Services Commission, said: "There are many reasons why average residential water bills rise or fall each year, including how much water you use, inflation, and how well your water business maintains the infrastructure. "
New South Wales AGL users pay an extra $300 a year
" The Daily Telegraph " reported that for hundreds of thousands of AGL customers in New South Wales, their annual electricity bills will increase by nearly $300. , and the gas bill will be about 73 Australian dollars more per year. Because the energy retail giant announced a comprehensive price increase starting from August 1.
Labor went into the election promising to slash household electricity prices by $275 by 2025 by increasing the amount of renewable energy on the energy market. But after the Labor government came to power, it was vague on whether to commit to cutting electricity bills by AU$275 by 2025, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen suggesting that the policy goal was to put downward pressure on prices.
AGL's electricity price increase exceeds the increase recently announced by Origin, one of the three major retailers, which previously announced that it would increase electricity prices by an average of 14% starting from July 1. Despite this, AGL's price increases are still not as large as those of some small retailers, with One Big Switch's electricity prices increasing as much as 285%. AGL has 800,000 electricity customers in New South Wales, which means one in every four households is served by AGL. But not all users will see their electricity bills rise by 17.5%. For some households, this figure will be even greater.
In terms of natural gas, AGL holds a 43% market share and has more than 700,000 customers. An AGL spokesman said the company understood rising energy prices would put additional pressure on some households and businesses and they encouraged customers to contact it to discuss the different prices and support options available. Energy Australia, another major electricity retailer, has yet to reveal how much its prices will rise; as do second-tier power suppliers Alinta and Simple. In addition, electricity prices for AGL users in Queensland will increase by an average of 18% annually, and electricity prices for 400,000 AGL customers in South Australia will increase by 8.4%. (Compiled by Wang Yuqing)
Editor: Wang Fan
