The South Australian Council of Social Service says the state’s government should stop cutting off power and gas supplies for people who cannot afford them, as residents struggle with utilitt price increases.

The key welfare agency has called for a third-party review mechanism to be established, one that would take the ultimate decision on disconnecting services away from the power companies.

"We believe it is possible to implement arrangements where a limited supply can be provided to households in hardship," SACOSS executive director Ross Womersley said, “we find this situation intolerable and unacceptable and call for industry to review its approach to hardship and disconnections as a matter of urgency... electricity and gas are essential services and vital for us all.”

SACOSS figures say 10,000 residents have their power cut off in South Australia each year, and that a majority of those failed to pay their bills because they simply could not afford to do so.

Mr Womersley has presented the proposals at the council's Hardship and Affordability Conference in Adelaide on Wednesday.