“In May, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) announced it would be raising the default market offer (DMO) – or the price providers are allowed to charge their customers – with the changes coming into effect from July 1. The hikes mean Queenslanders could see an increase of up to 12.6 per cent, while those in NSW could see up to 18.3 per cent and 9.5 per cent in South Australia. …

Australians are already growing increasingly stressed about their energy bills, according to Finder’s recent consumer research. In June, 28 per cent, or 5.4 million Aussies, placed their energy bill in their top three most stressful expenses, the research found. Finder energy expert Mariam Gabaji said a growing number of Australians were facing energy bills they can’t afford:

‘Rising energy prices and higher interest rates squeezing budgets, together with the winter energy surge, could be the perfect storm. Vulnerable households are doing what they can to offset the increases – but with prices forecast to spike even further, there are little cost-saving measures left for them to try’.”