Helping with the Cost of Energy
Research released today by ANGLICARE Sydney, indicates that more needs to be done to assist low income families meet their energy costs.
The research was carried out among people who seek help from ANGLICARE Sydney’s Emergency Relief centres and who are struggling with the everyday costs of living, including the payment of energy bills.
“If we are serious about assisting low income households meet their energy costs, we will need an approach that tackles this issue on many different fronts,” says ANGLICARE Sydney Research and Policy Manager, Sue King. “This will become even more urgent when energy prices rise under a carbon emissions trading scheme or through privatisation of the energy sector.”
The study surveyed people assisted under the NSW Department of Water and Energy’s Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme across six ANGLICARE Emergency Relief centres across greater metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands and found:
- The primary reason for seeking assistance with energy payments was other high and unavoidable expenses, such as sudden medical or car maintenance expenses, a higher bill than usual, and many bills at once. A reduction or loss of income, illness, mental health issues, relationship breakdown and other life circumstances also featured prominently.
- Sixty-seven per cent of clients did not have payment arrangements in place to help pay off their bill. Those who had payment arrangements were less likely to have sought EAPA assistance in the previous 9 months than those who did not.
- The largest household type among people seeking EAPA assistance was single parents with children (44 per cent), followed by persons living alone (28 per cent). Children resided in 60 per cent of all households included in the study.
Recommendations ANGLICARE has made as a result of the research findings include:
- The provision of case management at Emergency Relief centres for families and individuals with complex issues;
- Early intervention by energy providers to prevent disconnections;
- Increased funding for the NSW Department of Water and Energy’s Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme;
- Maintaining the role of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal is setting regulated tariffs; and
- Helping low income households to respond to climate change through revenue raised by the auction of carbon permits under the proposed emissions trading scheme.
Helping with the Cost of Energy - December 2008
Helping with the Cost of Energy Summary - December 2008
