Australia is currently facing a dual crisis of affordability and reliability that is pushing household and business budgets to a breaking point. Electricity prices have risen 19% in the past three years and are expected to rise a further 24% by July 2026. Recent data reveals that 1 in 5 Australian households are now experiencing or are vulnerable to energy hardship, with 15% of families forced to sacrifice essentials like food or housing just to pay their power bills.

The financial burden is intensifying as government support measures expire. As of February 2026, the removal of power bill rebates has exposed underlying price hikes that were previously masked, contributing to a resurgence in national inflation. Average annual electricity debts for struggling households have climbed to $1,367, an increase of over $200 in just one year.

Our energy system is under unprecedented strain:

    •    Worsening Hardship: Nearly 340,000 households are currently in energy debt, with renters disproportionately affected. 50% of renters report energy-related hardship.

    •    Extreme Volatility: Australian energy prices remain among the most volatile in the world, with extreme price events of over $10,000/MWh occurring more than 200 times in 2024 in NSW alone.

    •    Business Viability: Energy-intensive manufacturers and smelters are reaching a critical inflection point, with many becoming unviable as they contend with record-high input prices that threaten local jobs and paychecks.

    •    Reliability Gaps: If it weren’t for recent delays to the retirement of coal-fired power stations, the risk of reliability gaps in the grid would have been unavoidable in 2027-28.

We cannot afford an energy transition that leaves the most vulnerable behind or forces our industries to close. The maths is no longer working for everyday Australians.

We call on Australia's leaders to prioritise a low-cost, resilient energy mix that delivers affordable and reliable electricity for all Australians.