NEW England residents are forking out 30 per cent more on electricity bills than their big city counterparts, a detailed new study has revealed.
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Proving the city-country divide hasn’t deteriorated, data from consumer advocate One Big Switch shows an average four-person New England household using 7000kWh a year on the standard rate would pay $2897, while a family in the south of Sydney would pay $2179 for the same usage – a difference of more than $700.
The data comes as New England prepares to swelter through a long summer, with electricity rates already at record levels.
Campaign director for One Big Switch, Christopher Zinn, said it was now more critical than ever that locals shopped around for a better deal.
“People are going to get record power bills this summer – the highest they’ve ever been,” Mr Zinn warned.
Mr Zinn said residents in the Essential Energy zone, were forced to pay a higher daily supply charge because the costs of delivering electricity in the bush were higher than in the city.