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13 Mar 2025
While today’s decision is not what was hoped for, it confirms that ageing and increasingly unreliable coal-fired power stations, are by far the biggest contributors to these higher costs for Australian households and small businesses - as well as an over-reliance on expensive gas, which is in short supply.
Kane Thornton Clean Energy Council Chief Executive

Today, the Australian Energy Regulator released the Default Market Offer for 2025-26, forecasting higher consumer prices between 2.5- 8.9% across NSW, southeast Queensland and South Australia.

While it pays off to shop around for the best deal available, these results are not what anyone has hoped for, particularly during a cost-of-living crunch.

The fact is that wholesale prices have increased in the National Electricity Market as a result of keeping ageing and increasingly unreliable coal-fired power stations online for longer, as well as a strained transmission system in urgent need of upgrades.

Getting lowest-cost renewables, including solar, wind, batteries and pumped hydro, online in our energy system sooner, is the key to driving down power prices into the future.

Read more about the impact on future energy bills and the lowest-cost pathway to cheaper energy bills in our latest report, The Impact of a Delayed Transition on Energy Bills.

Read the report

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Liam Straughan
Clean Energy Council Media Officer
+61 409 470 683

Email the media team
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