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The Big Energy Switch is helping Australians save money on their power bills.
HOUSEHOLDS blame their state government for the price of power and believe politicians have next to no idea how much stress rising energy bills have put on the cost of living.
These findings emerge from a massive new survey that also reveals premiers from one side of the country to the other could be jolted by an electric shock at the ballot box unless they act to curb increases.
Few if any household budget line items have blown out in the way power has over the past decade, up 120 per cent nationally since 2006.
This has heightened household sensitivity to further hikes — prices rose by double-digit percentages in NSW and SA on July 1 — and set the scene for a potential backlash at state elections if little or nothing is done to contain costs.
A survey of about 45,000 power consumers in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia run as part of its Big Energy Switch campaign for group-discounted electricity reveals 46 per cent of campaign supporters blame their state government for the high cost of energy and nearly nine out of 10 say it will affect how they vote. States were considered much more culpable than the Federal Government or electricity retailers and network owners.
Asked about their state government’s understanding of energy bill stress, 82 per cent said they believed it had “very little†or “no†awareness whatsoever.
Among those who said the cost of electricity would affect how they vote at the next state election, 37 per cent said it would have a “very significant†effect.
The Big Energy Switch is being run by One Big Switch whose campaign director Joel Gibson said: “Australian energy prices have seen relentless price rises year on year and whether they like it or not, state governments have to take most of the responsibility for this.â€
However he warned against waiting for politicians to fix the problem.
“Anyone wanting to fight back against high energy prices can join our campaign today.â€
The Big Energy Switch has attracted the support of about 60,000 households nationally since being launched by News Corp Australia two weeks ago.
Go to www.onebigswitch.com.au for more information.
There is no obligation to take up any offer. News Corp Australia and One Big Switch will earn a commission from any accepted deals. News Corp is a shareholder of One Big Switch.