Power Bills to Rise for Aurora Customers from July

Tasmanian households and small businesses on regulated power contracts will see their bills increase from July 1, after the state’s economic regulator approved a price rise for Aurora Energy.

According to reporting from Pulse Tasmania and Mirage News, the Tasmanian Economic Regulator announced on Thursday it had approved an average increase of 4.23 per cent for residential and small business customers on standing offers. The change will affect customers on mainland Tasmania and Bruny Island.

For a typical household, the increase will mean paying about $108 more for power each year, while a small business on Tariff 22 can expect to pay an extra $61, Pulse Tasmania reported.

The regulator, Joe Dimasi, said the main reason for the increase was higher network costs paid to TasNetworks, which operates the state’s poles and wires, according to Pulse Tasmania. A document from the Australian Energy Regulator in March noted that its approved network charges for TasNetworks were estimated to be 6.5 per cent higher for a typical residential customer for the 2026-27 period. Mr Dimasi also noted a slight rise in wholesale electricity costs, as reported by Pulse Tasmania.

State Treasurer Eric Abetz told Mirage News that the government recognises the cost of living challenges facing families. He said the price determination from the independent regulator reflects cost pressures being felt across Australia’s energy system.

Despite the increase, reports noted that Tasmanian regulated electricity bills remain among the lowest in the country. The 4.23 per cent rise is also below Hobart’s current annual inflation rate of 5.0 per cent, Pulse Tasmania reported.

Aurora Energy Chief Executive Nigel Clark said support is available for customers experiencing financial difficulty, according to Pulse Tasmania. Mr Clark noted that funding for the energy hardship fund, a joint initiative with the state government, was recently doubled to $700,000. He encouraged any customers struggling with their energy costs to contact Aurora to discuss payment plans and other support.

The regulator also announced a 5.6 per cent increase to the minimum feed-in tariff for solar customers, bringing the rate to 9.276 cents per kilowatt-hour, Pulse Tasmania reported.

The original story was reported by ABC News.