SA households not using heating because of electricity cost, says survey
Author: The Advertiser Date Posted:18 July 2016
Woodville South resident Greg Horne joined One Big Switch after learning his power prices would rise
CASH-STRAPPED South Australian householders concerned about rising energy bills are choosing not to heat their home this winter, a survey into energy use has revealed.
A poll of 3500 households who have joined the Big Switch Campaign to secure a better electricity deal also found nearly half reported living in energy fuel poverty, spending more than 10 per cent of their income on gas and electricity, or had trouble paying their bills.
Joel Gibson, director of campaign organiser One Big Switch, said sacrificing something as basic as heating the home was something “no family” should have to do.
“The fact that 48 per cent of SA households are suffering from fuel poverty means it comes as no surprise that families are going to such lengths to alleviate their bill stress,” he said.
“The first thing people can do to help themselves is to ensure they’re not paying more for their electricity than they have to. Join our campaign or shop around.”
The survey was launched as part of the Big Energy Switch, a nationwide people-power campaign to cut the cost of electricity.
