The Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator (OTTER) has released its biannual Comparison of 2012 Australian Standing Offer Energy Prices Report which provides an overview of regulated and standing offer tariffs for gas and electricity around the country taking into account the Tasmanian regulated electricity tariffs
from 1 July 2011 and recent increases in other states and territories.


OTTER found that Tasmanian electricity prices are in the mid range for customers with average to high consumption. Customers with low consumption pay a higher price per unit of power consumed, largely because of the higher daily charges in Tasmania. The mix of tariffs that customers are on and how usage is split between various tariffs (such as Hot Water and Light and Power tariffs) has a big influence how much customers pay per unit of electricity consumed.


Customers in states and territories with fully contestable retail markets may be able to take advantage of cheaper prices offered by competing retailers.


Concession customers in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory enjoy the lowest average electricity prices. The Tasmanian electricity concession is effective at reducing the impact of higher daily charges, making Tasmanian residential concession prices competitive with those available in other states and territories.


Tasmanian small business customers that consume between 50 and 150 MWh per year, pay a rate that is competitive with prices available nationally. At lower consumption levels, Tasmanian customers pay prices that are in the mid to high range of those available across Australia.


OTTER found that Tasmanian residential natural gas customers with low consumption pay prices that are amongst the lowest in the country and are competitive with those available in other jurisdictions at average and high consumption levels. However, prices for Tasmanian business customers using natural gas are amongst the highest available nationally.

 

Copies of the Report are available at: www.economicregulator.tas.gov.au. Go to 'What’s New'