The repeal of the carbon tax and changes to network pricing rules have seen electricity bills paid by Canberra householders fall by as much as $300 in the past year, a new report has found.
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Price reductions, including as a result of the Australian Energy Regulator's price determination for ActewAGL charges, have seen most households paying total bill amounts similar to what they paid in 2013-14.
The report by the St Vincent de Paul Society and Alviss Consulting found typical bills had reduced by about $100, or about 6 per cent, after the carbon tax was repealed. However, the same bills have since increased by about $75.
Dual gas and electricity households have seen costs fall by about $280 since July 2014. Despite a general lack of competitive market offers for customers in the ACT, moderate savings can be made by switching retail provider.
The report's authors have tracked electricity and gas tariffs in the ACT since July 2009. The findings are based on a typical household consumption of 48,000 megajoules of gas per annum and 6500 kilowatts of electricity for dual fuel households or 8000 kilowatts per annum for households without gas.
Set to be released on Wednesday, the report found typical households in the ACT could save as much as $150 a year, or about 9 per cent, of their electricity costs by switching from ActewAGL to Origin Energy when on-time discounts were considered.
Changing gas provider from ActewAGL to Energy Australia could save as much as $160 annually.
It also found network use charges accounted for about 40 per cent of total bills. The charges have increased 43 per cent since July 2009 for electricity and 35 per cent for gas in the same period.
All electric households pay bills ranging from $1450 to $1650 annually, and decreases of as much as 16 per cent in the past 12 months have resulted in savings of as much as $305. Homes with dual fuel gas and electricity are saving about 8 per cent, or $270.
Price savings from market offers are on the rise.
"One year ago ACT households were unable to reduce their electricity bill by switching and could only save $50 per annum by switching gas retailer.
"As of July 2015, however, the potential saving is $150 for electricity and $160 for gas," the report said.
Some of the savings are being offset by changes to on-time payment incentives. Origin Energy had offered a 16 per cent on-time discount but the saving has been halved to match Energy Australia's. Instead of saving about $200, consumers might save $150 as a result.
Late-paying customers in the ACT will only save about $20 annually by switching from ActewAGL to Energy Australia based on gas offers.
"The entry of Origin Energy into the residential energy markets in the ACT has increased the number of offers available as well as the size of discounts offered," the report said.
St Vincent de Paul policy and research manager Gavin Dufty said Canberra's current wintry conditions made it "a great time to shop around and get the cheaper rate".
"The money is better in householders' pockets that the pockets of retailers," Mr Dufty said.
In April, ActewAGL said it planned "substantial" job cuts in the wake of the Australian Energy Regulator's ruling slashing the company's operating allowance by 35 per cent. The change meant a $100-a-year saving on the average electricity bill.
