30pc rise in people needing energy bill help
Posted
Electricity prices are set to increase. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin)
The New South Wales Energy and Water Ombudsman, Clare Petrie, has confirmed there has been a 30 per cent increase in the number of people seeking payment extension plans at Energy Australia.
The Ombudsman says there has also been a 10 per cent increase in requests from Integral Energy.
Ms Petrie says there have been steep price rises recently, and increases of up to 62 per cent are proposed over the next few years.
She says she is concerned about the impact of electricity price rises on consumers and that she hopes 'fuel poverty' doesn't start to affect householders.
"We tend to talk about affordability issues but fuel poverty means really you don't have enough money to pay," she said.
"I'm really concerned that we might face that situation where people can't afford it and might be disconnected. So as a community we've really got to make sure that doesn't happen."
The New South Wales Energy Minister John Roberston says there are already packages to help families struggling with higher electricity bills.
"What we've said is that in any pricing determination they've got to put families first," he said.
"That was our submission and that's something we're very conscious of. That's why we've got the package and benefits in place to make sure people can't be disconnected."
Mr Roberston says the independent pricing tribunal, IPART is due to hand down its final recommendation on price rises this week.
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