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NSW: Massive price hikes in public transport, tolls, electricity and phone bills

Daniela PizziraniNCA NewsWire
Not Supplied
Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: istock

Hundreds of thousands of NSW residents are set to face ballooning bills on public transport, tolls, and electricity amid surging prices for groceries, petrol and rent.

Public transport fares in the state will increase on average by 3 per cent on Monday, while road tolls in Sydney will rise by 2 per cent on Friday.

Motorways across Sydney will ramp up costs for drivers commuting to work, with tolls increasing 5.7 per cent since July 2021.

Drivers will on average be slugged an extra $10 a month or more than $20 a month for commuters travelling five days a week since the same time last year.

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AGL Energy, which has around 800,000 electricity customers in NSW – or about one in every four households, has slugged customers with an $300 annual increase to their power bills.

Senior couple at home with many bills
Camera IconNSW residents commuting to work will be slugged more than $20 a month extra with road tolls in some areas. Supplied. Credit: istock

Prices are set to rise by an average 17.5 per cent from August 1, with some customers, including those in western Sydney expecting to be hit with a 20 per cent climb.

The energy retailer is also planning to increase gas prices by more than 8 per cent – the equivalent of more than $70 annually.

Finder energy expert Mariam Gabaji said a growing number of Australians were facing energy bills they couldn’t afford.

“Bills have already increased this year, and it is only set to become a bigger problem for households across Australia,” she said.

“Rising energy prices and higher interest rates squeezing budgets, together with the winter energy surge, could be the perfect storm.

“Vulnerable households are doing what they can to offset the increases – but with prices forecast to spike even further, there are little cost-saving measures left for them to try.”

Electricity bills are set to increase by up to 20 per cent in some areas in NSW. Supplied.
Camera IconElectricity bills are set to increase by up to 20 per cent in some areas in NSW. Supplied. Credit: News Regional Media

Opposition energy spokesman Jihad Dib said energy bills were placing increased pressure on NSW families.

“It’s time for the government to come up with a real plan for cost of living relief that families can access,” he said.

“The government’s approach to cost of living relief is that if you’re not on an existing concession then you’re not feeling the pinch – this is naive and out of touch.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the government had pushed out a new relief package to ease cost of living pressures, with drivers set to save up to $750 a year on tolls.

“About half a million NSW motorists will receive cash rebates paid quarterly into their bank accounts under the NSW government’s toll rebate scheme,” he said.

Alongside energy, public transport and tolls, phone bills are also set to surge.

According to the Australian Communication Media Authority, Telstra – which serve nearly half the Australian market – will increase their mobile packages by up to $4 a month.

Originally published as NSW: Massive price hikes in public transport, tolls, electricity and phone bills

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