Energy & Low Income Households
Jump to
People living on low incomes are experiencing significant pressures as a result of substantial increases in the cost of electricity, without a concomitant increase in income. Low income people are most likely to live in poorly-insulated and inefficient rental accommodation, and spend a higher proportion of their income on energy, water and fuel than others. They are least able to respond to increases in prices and to invest in more efficient homes. Given that energy is an essential service, energy price rises leave the most vulnerable households with little option but to pay the extra.
Energy Forums
Addressing the drivers of rising energy prices – the opportunities and risks for vulnerable households, 14 November 2012
This workshop, co-hosted with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, provided a forum for the community welfare sector and its partners to deliberate on rising energy prices and the options for addressing them.
Workshop presentations: What’s causing rising energy prices and the opportunities for tackling rising prices
- John Thwaites, Chair, ClimateWorks Australia, and Chair, Equity and Climate Change Program, Brotherhood of St Laurence: Addressing the drivers of rising energy prices
- Lance Hoch, Director, Oakley Greenwood: What's causing the rise in energy prices and what can we do about it
- Eammon Corrigan, Director, AEMC: Power of choice review: giving consumers options in the way they use electricity
Panel: Consumer expert perspectives
Gerard Brody, Director of Policy and Campaigns, Consumer Action
Gavin Dufty, Manager of Policy and Research, St Vincent de Paul
Gill Owen, Monash Sustainability Institute (former member of the UK Fuel Poverty Advisory Group)
Andrea Pape, Senior Policy Officer, Energy and Climate Change, ACOSS
For information on the 2011 ACOSS Energy Forums, please click here