Power bills to surge 21.5pc in NSW
Article from: Australian Associated Press
POWER bills for NSW households are likely to rise by as much as 21.5 per cent due to increased network costs.
A draft determination by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal for 2009-10 electricity prices says Energy Australia customers can expect bills to rise by 21.5 per cent from July.
Integral Energy customers can expect an increase of 18.9 per cent, and Country Energy a rise of 18.5 per cent.
Tribunal chairman Dr Michael Keating attributed the large increases predominantly to a rise in network costs.
"The network price is part of the cost of electricity, which is the transmission of it and distribution of it through the wire," he said on Thursday.
"That accounts for 12.6 per cent of the increase in the case of Energy Australia and 9.5 per cent for Integral Energy.
"That determination is outside of our control."
Dr Keating said an increase in the wholesale price of electricity - of 6 per cent for Energy Australia and Integral Energy, and 5 per cent for Country Energy - would also be passed onto consumers.
"We are obliged to pass that through," Dr Keating said.
The tribunal said the combined effect of higher network and wholesale costs would drive up a typical Energy Australia or Integral Energy domestic bill by about $3.45 a week.
Country Energy customers would pay about an extra $4.10 a week.
The tribunal said its determination does not require government approval, but the government and others were invited to comment on the draft determination.
A final determination will be made by May 20, with price changes to take effect from July 1.
Article from: Australian Associated Press
POWER bills for NSW households are likely to rise by as much as 21.5 per cent due to increased network costs.
A draft determination by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal for 2009-10 electricity prices says Energy Australia customers can expect bills to rise by 21.5 per cent from July.
Integral Energy customers can expect an increase of 18.9 per cent, and Country Energy a rise of 18.5 per cent.
Tribunal chairman Dr Michael Keating attributed the large increases predominantly to a rise in network costs.
"The network price is part of the cost of electricity, which is the transmission of it and distribution of it through the wire," he said on Thursday.
"That accounts for 12.6 per cent of the increase in the case of Energy Australia and 9.5 per cent for Integral Energy.
"That determination is outside of our control."
Dr Keating said an increase in the wholesale price of electricity - of 6 per cent for Energy Australia and Integral Energy, and 5 per cent for Country Energy - would also be passed onto consumers.
"We are obliged to pass that through," Dr Keating said.
The tribunal said the combined effect of higher network and wholesale costs would drive up a typical Energy Australia or Integral Energy domestic bill by about $3.45 a week.
Country Energy customers would pay about an extra $4.10 a week.
The tribunal said its determination does not require government approval, but the government and others were invited to comment on the draft determination.
A final determination will be made by May 20, with price changes to take effect from July 1.