Despite massive electricity and gas bill price rises across the nation earlier this month, a new analysis has found some Canberrans could save as much as $800 off their energy bills by shopping around.
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The Australian Energy Regulator's analysis of energy retailers' current price offers has found that despite ACT consumers being hit with big July 1 price rises, they could still save hundreds by switching to different offers or providers.
The analysis found the value of switching to a different energy retailer could be as high as $800 a year for some consumers.
It also follows an urgent call from Canberra's financial counselling service for the territory government to index and widen concessions for low income residents among other initiatives to reduce financial distress in the capital.
AER chairwoman Paula Conboy said if consumers had not switched for some time, or if they were still on a "standing offer, you are paying more for electricity or gas than you need to".
"Since the 1 July 2017 price rises, customers in Canberra could save $800 if switching from the most expensive electricity offer currently available to the cheapest," she said.
Ms Conboy said the savings may not be quite that high for consumers who have switched in the past, but there were "still savings to be made by shopping around", especially for those contracts with discounts that have since expired.
The AER's analysis of offers on its independent comparison website, Energy Made Easy, showed that a typical four-person household in Kaleen could save about $800 a year if they switched from the most expensive to the cheapest offer available.
But Ms Conboy urged consumers not to be taken in by only the headline price, or "dazzled by discounts", as such discounts may only apply to part of the bill, and there may be conditions attached like paying on time or setting up direct debit accounts.
She said those struggling to pay their energy bills in the wake of the July 1 price rises are also entitled to get help from their retailer, under "hard ship provisions" all retailers are required to provide.
"If customers are struggling to pay their energy bills they should contact their energy retailer early and ask for help, to avoid being disconnected," Ms Conboy said.
