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THERE is no end in sight for those who are struggling with power bills, as Miles Kemp reports.

In the 1990s, South Australians were told the State Government had to sell its ageing public electricity assets or face billions of dollars in taxpayer- funded infrastructure upgrades.

What has transpired in the decade since has been the same replacement and upgrading of infrastructure, but funded by massive increases in electricity bills.

When then-premier John Olsen and then-treasurer Rob Lucas first told the people of SA in 1998 that ETSA would be sold, the average household electricity price was $770.

Today, householders pay $1941.

And, by 2014, consumer advocates predict the average bill will be $2282 - almost doubling since the average bill in 2008 of $1165.

ETSA challenges the calculations, arguing the government regulator expects a $238 increase to $1918.

The State Government consistently blames its predecessor for privatising the state's electricity assets, but for many consumers, the excuses are wearing thin.

While Mr Lucas is now the Opposition finance spokesman, he is the last tenuous link to the days of the Liberals' post-State Bank privatisation.

He began the sale process in the distant dying days of the past millennium but has since dropped down the pecking order in the Liberal Party.

Whether South Australians would have been better off had the assets not been sold is unquantifiable.

The sum is perhaps too complicated to be formulated.

Not only did the state make $5 billion from the sale but this also reduced the state debt that was then $7.45 billion.

Economists estimated at the time investing the sale amount at 6 per cent would earn state coffers $240 million a year.

But, in exchange, electricity companies were given a system structured to be profitable enough to encourage competition and subsidised to promote initiative.

Recouping the money companies have had to spend on redundant infrastructure to meet the modern demands of the market makes up the lion's share of cost increases companies have passed on to the consumer.

To know more, read Adelaide Now's full story. 

If you want to save, call Love Energy for a free non-obligation consultation for your property or business in South Australia, Western Australia or Queensland.