Australia is facing a cost-of-living and energy crisis at the same time — and families are feeling it every day.

Electricity prices have already risen 19% in the past three years and are projected to rise another 24% by July 2026. At the same time, 1 in 5 Australian households is now experiencing or at risk of energy hardship. Fifteen percent of families are sacrificing essentials like food or housing just to keep the power connected.

The pressure is intensifying. As government rebates are withdrawn, underlying price increases are now fully exposed. In February 2026, the removal of bill relief measures contributed to renewed inflation pressure across the economy.

For households already struggling, average energy debt has climbed to $1,367 — up more than $200 in just one year.

Our energy system is under real strain:

• Growing hardship: Nearly 340,000 households are in energy debt. Renters are hit hardest, with half reporting energy-related hardship.

• Extreme price volatility: Australia has some of the most volatile energy prices in the world. In 2024 alone, NSW experienced more than 200 price spikes above $10,000 per megawatt hour.

• Businesses at risk: Energy-intensive manufacturers and smelters are reaching breaking point. Record input costs are threatening local jobs and regional communities.

• Reliability pressures: Without recent delays to the retirement of coal-fired power stations, the grid would have faced unavoidable reliability gaps as early as 2027–28.

This is not just an energy debate. It is a household budget issue. It is a jobs issue. It is a national stability issue.

Australia cannot afford an energy transition that leaves vulnerable families behind or forces our industries to close. The current path is not delivering affordability or certainty.

We are calling on Australia’s leaders to prioritise a practical, low-cost, resilient energy mix that delivers what Australians actually need:

Affordable bills.
Reliable power.
A strong and secure future.