A new report from the Climate Council, Power Games: Who’s driving high power bills? reveals that Aussies are being ripped off, while big polluters line their coffers, in part by overcharging millions of us, punishing loyalty and in some cases misleading Aussie consumers.
Expensive gas and unreliable coal clunkers drive spikes in prices that hit families and businesses where it hurts. The evidence is clear: without renewable energy, power bills would be even higher. Renewable energy is the only thing pushing electricity prices down, cutting $417 off the average household electricity bill in 2024 (a collective saving of $3.8 billion).
While gas normally provides just a fraction of the electricity in Australia’s main grid, it dictates wholesale electricity prices up to 90 percent of the time. Domestic gas prices are now four times higher than when Australia began exporting the fossil fuel from the east coast in 2015, exposing Aussie households to the price shocks from volatile global markets.
If that seems unfair, it is. But Aussies are taking their power back in droves. In the second half of 2025, nearly 140,000 households installed solar panels – joining the one in three who already have them in place – and almost 185,000 homes connected household batteries.
With renewables bringing down bills for families and businesses, Aussies can stop funding polluting electricity retailers and instead save for their own lives – the kids’ school excursion, an emergency vet visit or simply the weekly shop – a savings benefit and a return to fairness every Aussie should have access to.
Media Release: Climate Media Centre
