The CEO of Aurora has confirmed more time spent at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and estimated power usage in the months of April and May has led to many Tasmanians receiving higher than expected winter power bills, leading to bill shock.
Shadow Minister for Energy David O'Byrne said the comments from the energy retailer strengthened Labor's calls for a winter energy supplement.
"Winter traditionally leads to higher power bills in Tasmania, and the CEO of Aurora Energy confirmed during a media interview this morning that some customers are receiving even higher than expected bills as a result of being at home and past bill estimation.
"Labor has been warning for months the looming impact of these bills - and now Tasmanians are receiving financial penalties as a result of doing what they were told to do during the height of the pandemic and staying home.
"We have heard from concerned Tasmanians across the state about the impact increased bills are having on their household finances.
"Sarah, a single mother of a child with disabilities and living in Hobart's Northern suburbs, received a bill totalling $1877 - creating immense financial strain, not knowing how she would pay it.
"After Labor raised the issue in parliament, Sarah was contacted by Aurora Energy and her bill was reduced - but this is just one isolated example, and there are countless people left wondering how they are going to deal with this added expense.
"The government provided a $120 energy bill supplement to thousands of Tasmanians in the middle of summer leading to the 2018 election to score political points, yet now when people are in pain they choose to look the other way.
"It cannot continue to ignore the plight of Tasmanians struggling as a result of doing what they were told."
David O'Byrne
Shadow Minister for Energy
