Electricity prices in Victoria skyrocketed 88% in a decade! The electricity bill is so high that many residents dare not even turn on the heating in winter, and even don't allow guests to give air-conditioners.

Rising electricity prices in Victoria are pushing many households to the brink of poverty, according to a new report from the RMIT and Victorian Council of Social Services. To balance the increase in household spending as a result of the increase in electricity tariffs, a number of Victorian families have tried to reduce their electricity use in various ways, such as:

Bathe in a local charity or pool to save hot water at home;

The heating and air conditioning will not be turned on unless a guest comes;

In order to control the family budget before the electricity bill arrived, it had to blow up its credit card;

The high electricity bill even forced a resident named Mark Brewer not to allow guests to charge their phones in their homes. "I really can`t afford this much electricity," he said.

On the same day the report was released, senior Australian Prime Minister Tam Po and senior officials of goverment met with heads of major Australian energy retailers, focusing on soaring household energy spending in Australia. And recent reports accusing energy companies of automatically converting their electricity contracts to higher prices without the knowledge of residents (some residents were attracted by low electricity prices to sign electricity contracts with power companies). But a 12-to 24-month contract automatically transfers to a higher price after it expires, causing residents to spend at least $278 more a year on their electricity bills.

"the national debate on electricity prices is all about numbers," said Emma King, head of Victorian Council of Social Services. Numbers are important, but behind each number is a family struggling with electricity bills. They should not be forgotten. "

"politicians only know who should be held accountable for high electricity bills, but low-income, even middle-income Victorian families are suffering. In order to save electricity, no heating, no air conditioning, even no meals, but still carry huge credit card debt. Power companies must take steps to provide residents with more reasonable electricity agreements. "

The data also show how high electricity prices are in Victoria:

Electricity and gas prices in Victoria have risen by as much as 88% over the past 10 years, according to the Australian National University`s (Australian National University) data model. The average annual electricity and gas bill for families in Victoria is as high as $3270!

At present, nearly 40, 000 families in the state are unable to afford the electricity bill because they participate in the hardship assistance program (hardship programs), which means that the average amount of electricity owed by the families is $1, 600. The number of needy households increased by 17% over the previous year.

L in addition, the State has an average of nearly 90,000 electricity users per month and 70,000 gas users pay energy costs by installment, an increase of 12 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, compared with the previous year. 3/4 of those users did not join the aid program for needy families.

In the six months to December, nearly 20,000 families in Victoria were cut off because they failed to pay their electricity and gas bills.

Ms King said, "the number of households without electricity in Victoria is the largest in Australia. It is very cruel and inhumane to allow electricity prices to continue to rise without doing anything to help us, and we must change that! "

I do not know if your friends feel the economic pressure caused by the rise in electricity prices. Even if not, then soaring tuition fees, vegetable prices, house prices and non-rising wages may have an impact on you. Go on like this, really want to eat dirt wow!