Renters and families to be hit hardest by new gas price rises, advocates warn

Consumer advocates are warning about the disproportionate cost-of-living impact on renters and families already struggling with energy bills as hefty gas price hikes hit four Australian states on Wednesday.

Gas companies, including AGL, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia and Powershop, announced in January that they would again be raising prices, including daily supply charges, for many residential and business customers on 1 February.

The price rises are steepest and most highly concentrated in Victoria, with companies estimating residential gas bills to increase on average by up to $480 a year, depending on usage.

They come as figures from the Consumer Policy Research Centre suggest more than one in 10 Victorians are seeking financial hardship support from their energy provider.

One in 20 people (5%) had borrowed money from friends or family to pay their energy bill and 6% reported they had to miss a payment.

The survey showed 22% of single parents and 16% of couples with children had asked for payment assistance on an energy bill. Sixteen per cent of single parents and 8% of couples with children said they had to miss a payment.

Renters found things more difficult than other cohorts: nearly one in five renters (17%) skipped a meal due to household costs compared with 9% of the total group surveyed and 14% of renters asked for payment assistance with an energy bill.

AGL increased gas prices for its variable rate customers in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

Powershop and Origin Energy did not respond to requests for comment. Both companies list hardship provisions on their websites.