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ABC News Daily

How power companies justify another price hike

Mar 23, 2025
Alison Reeve, Energy and Climate Change Deputy Program Director at the Grattan Institute, dives into the persistent rise of electricity costs in Australia. She explains how government policies and global events, like the Ukraine war, are driving these hikes beyond inflation rates. Listeners will learn about the regional disparities in pricing and the limited relief measures available. Reeve critiques the effectiveness of government subsidies and champions alternative strategies for achieving energy efficiency, shedding light on a pressing issue affecting consumers.
14:00

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Electricity prices in Australia are expected to rise significantly again, primarily due to soaring gas costs and international market influences.
  • Long-term solutions to stabilize energy prices should focus on energy efficiency and renewable technologies rather than broad government subsidies.

Deep dives

Rising Electricity Prices and Government Relief

Electricity prices across Australia are set to rise again, with reports of increases ranging from 5.1% to 9% depending on the region. This trend follows a significant rise in prices over the past couple of years, with some households experiencing increases of up to 50%. Although recent government rebates of $300 per household have provided some relief, consumers are still facing higher bills due to the default market offer being raised significantly. Most people are on individual contracts rather than the default market offer, meaning that price impact may vary from household to household.

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