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Electricity prices up $500 - and more pain is on the way

The average annual  household electricity bill has soared by more than $500 in just three years.

The Essential Service Commission of South s annual performance report on the supply of gas and electricity, released today, also reveals consumers are paying $68 each year to subsidise green energy initiatives.

It is the first time ESCOSA has calculated the figure, which includes solar panels generating electricity for the grid, giveaways of home energy-saving devices and the funding of schemes that promote high-cost alternative energy sources.

The release of the figures comes as the Australian Energy Market Commission begins talks in Brisbane today about how to cap electricity prices.

The ESCOSA report shows the average household bill has increased from $1165 to $1680 in the past three years.

The report also shows the number of residential electricity disconnections jumped from 4748 to 7311 last year.

The average annual level of disconnections in SA since the national electricity market's launch in 1998 is 7303.

ESCOSA chief executive Paul Kerin told The Advertiser it was difficult to predict how much electricity prices would increase, but "energy prices are likely to continue to rise in the short-term because of upward price pressures," he said.

The best way to fight electricity price rise is to install a solar power system on your property or business. Love Energy can help you to assess you need and select the best system for residential or commercial in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.

If you want to read more about the electricity price increase, read Adelaide Now's full story.