No relief from the heat: Aussies struggle to stay comfortable amid soaring energy costs. Read their stories
- Replies 19
Summer might be over, but the scorching hot and sticky weather is still here to make our lives miserable. We're talking about sweat dripping down your back, clothes sticking to your skin, and feeling like you're melting in the heat.
And while air conditioning is supposed to be our saving grace, sadly, not everyone can afford it.
In Australia, thousands of people are suffering through the heatwave without access to air conditioning, according to a report by A Current Affair. Imagine feeling like you're trapped in a sauna, unable to escape the oppressive heat…
That's the reality for people like Karen and her son Connor, who are struggling to keep cool during the hot summer months.
Karen, a hardworking mother-of-two, described the situation in vivid detail. 'To the point where you feel nauseated like you're living 24/7 with heat stroke,' she said. 'Trying to get cool by putting cold towels on the back of your neck.'
It's a struggle that many of us can relate to, but for Karen and Connor, it's an everyday reality.
Their household simply cannot afford the sky-high power bills that come with the hot weather, and with temperatures soaring up to 38 degrees in Sydney, they face many difficulties.
It's a heartbreaking reminder that something as essential as staying cool in the summer is a luxury that not everyone can afford. Karen shared that the first year they used air conditioning, their quarterly bill for summer was a whopping $800. That's a steep price to pay!
Even worse, their last bill, which covered most of the summer, was $380. As a result, they couldn't turn on the air conditioning even once this summer.
Her son, Connor, is struggling to cope as well. Despite his best efforts to help pay the bills with his carer pension, they still struggle to make ends meet.
'Often when Connor goes to bed, I'll find him on the tiled floor in the dining room with the fan on, and he's just saying: “It's too hot in there, mum”,' Karen shared.
It's heart-wrenching to think Connor has to resort to sleeping on the floor just to escape the unbearable heat. 'To be honest, it's actually more comfortable than sleeping in my bed because that's how hot it is,' Connor admitted.
But Karen and Connor aren’t the only ones suffering. David's story is yet another reminder of the struggles that many Australians face in the scorching months.
Battling cancer for the third time, he is also dealing with the financial burden of trying to afford his power bill. This challenge feels insurmountable, especially as he comes to terms with the heartbreaking fact that he may not see his boys reach their next birthdays.
'You're trying to deal with the stresses of having this diagnosis, the stresses of the treatment, and then you're trying to get help paying the bills,' David shared, revealing he had to offload his house in 2018 just to cover the bills and put food on the table.
He has since set up payment plans with his electricity and gas providers, but it's a constant source of stress in his life. Money may not solve David's health problems, but he said it would give him some peace of mind.
Iwan Sawa is a father of two who's locked in a heated battle with his energy provider over a jaw-dropping $1600 bill. He's tried everything he can to cut back on energy usage, but it seems like it's not enough. 'We stopped using the dryer, stopped using the heater, anything that uses a lot of electricity,' he shared. 'But it didn't make a difference.'
To make matters worse, his energy provider has threatened to cut off his electricity not once but twice. 'I can barely afford to live in this home. I'm struggling as it is,' Sawa said. It's a devastating reality for so many Australians who are forced to make impossible choices between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table.
Thankfully, Sawa installed a smart meter, which has significantly reduced his bills by over $1000. But it's not a permanent solution, and he believes that more needs to be done to help struggling Aussies cope with the rising costs of living.
A recent survey revealed how Aussies are handling the heat, uncovering shocking statistics about the high cost of energy bills and the severe impact of heat on people's physical and mental health.
The survey revealed that a whopping 90% of respondents said the heat was making them ill. It found that 72.1% of renters couldn't cool their homes down during hot weather, and while 70% had some form of ventilation, it wasn't enough.
The survey also discovered that 94.5% of those who had air conditioning didn't use it due to the high electricity bills.
But even more concerning was the fact that 29.8% needed medical treatment for heat-related conditions, with older adults and those with disabilities being the most affected.
The struggle with high energy bills and the summer heat isn't just limited to those featured on A Current Affair. Members of the SDC community have also shared their own experiences.
@Liz, for instance, shared her predicament: 'I have air conditioning but am reluctant to run it because of the cost. I am registered with my power company due to a health condition but what good is that when you cannot afford the bills?'
Another member, @Nana Zorak, chimed in and agreed, 'We have an air conditioner in the lounge supplied by us in our rented house but never turn it on because of the cost.'
Their stories illustrate the harsh reality of the situation: many Australians are struggling to stay cool during the summer months, and the high cost of electricity bills only exacerbates the problem.
We understand just how challenging it can be to keep up with power costs during these hot days and nights. We hope our members are doing their best to stay safe, cool and comfortable in the heat!
Have you tried cutting down on your electricity bills? Tell us about it in the comments below.
And while air conditioning is supposed to be our saving grace, sadly, not everyone can afford it.
In Australia, thousands of people are suffering through the heatwave without access to air conditioning, according to a report by A Current Affair. Imagine feeling like you're trapped in a sauna, unable to escape the oppressive heat…
That's the reality for people like Karen and her son Connor, who are struggling to keep cool during the hot summer months.
It's hard to imagine going through the sweltering heat without air conditioning, but for many Australians, it's a daily struggle for many Australians. Credit: Unsplash/Tregg Frank.
Karen, a hardworking mother-of-two, described the situation in vivid detail. 'To the point where you feel nauseated like you're living 24/7 with heat stroke,' she said. 'Trying to get cool by putting cold towels on the back of your neck.'
It's a struggle that many of us can relate to, but for Karen and Connor, it's an everyday reality.
Their household simply cannot afford the sky-high power bills that come with the hot weather, and with temperatures soaring up to 38 degrees in Sydney, they face many difficulties.
It's a heartbreaking reminder that something as essential as staying cool in the summer is a luxury that not everyone can afford. Karen shared that the first year they used air conditioning, their quarterly bill for summer was a whopping $800. That's a steep price to pay!
Even worse, their last bill, which covered most of the summer, was $380. As a result, they couldn't turn on the air conditioning even once this summer.
With temperatures soaring, many Australians are finding it increasingly difficult to keep cool and stay comfortable during a heatwave. Credit: Unsplash/Norbert Braun.
Her son, Connor, is struggling to cope as well. Despite his best efforts to help pay the bills with his carer pension, they still struggle to make ends meet.
'Often when Connor goes to bed, I'll find him on the tiled floor in the dining room with the fan on, and he's just saying: “It's too hot in there, mum”,' Karen shared.
It's heart-wrenching to think Connor has to resort to sleeping on the floor just to escape the unbearable heat. 'To be honest, it's actually more comfortable than sleeping in my bed because that's how hot it is,' Connor admitted.
But Karen and Connor aren’t the only ones suffering. David's story is yet another reminder of the struggles that many Australians face in the scorching months.
Battling cancer for the third time, he is also dealing with the financial burden of trying to afford his power bill. This challenge feels insurmountable, especially as he comes to terms with the heartbreaking fact that he may not see his boys reach their next birthdays.
'You're trying to deal with the stresses of having this diagnosis, the stresses of the treatment, and then you're trying to get help paying the bills,' David shared, revealing he had to offload his house in 2018 just to cover the bills and put food on the table.
He has since set up payment plans with his electricity and gas providers, but it's a constant source of stress in his life. Money may not solve David's health problems, but he said it would give him some peace of mind.
Finder shows that energy bills rank as the third most stressful bill for Australians. Credit: Arthur Lambillote.
Iwan Sawa is a father of two who's locked in a heated battle with his energy provider over a jaw-dropping $1600 bill. He's tried everything he can to cut back on energy usage, but it seems like it's not enough. 'We stopped using the dryer, stopped using the heater, anything that uses a lot of electricity,' he shared. 'But it didn't make a difference.'
To make matters worse, his energy provider has threatened to cut off his electricity not once but twice. 'I can barely afford to live in this home. I'm struggling as it is,' Sawa said. It's a devastating reality for so many Australians who are forced to make impossible choices between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table.
Thankfully, Sawa installed a smart meter, which has significantly reduced his bills by over $1000. But it's not a permanent solution, and he believes that more needs to be done to help struggling Aussies cope with the rising costs of living.
A recent survey revealed how Aussies are handling the heat, uncovering shocking statistics about the high cost of energy bills and the severe impact of heat on people's physical and mental health.
The survey revealed that a whopping 90% of respondents said the heat was making them ill. It found that 72.1% of renters couldn't cool their homes down during hot weather, and while 70% had some form of ventilation, it wasn't enough.
The survey also discovered that 94.5% of those who had air conditioning didn't use it due to the high electricity bills.
But even more concerning was the fact that 29.8% needed medical treatment for heat-related conditions, with older adults and those with disabilities being the most affected.
It's outrageous to think that in a country like Australia, staying cool in the summer can be a luxury that not everyone can afford. Credit: Unsplash/S O C I A L . C U T.
The struggle with high energy bills and the summer heat isn't just limited to those featured on A Current Affair. Members of the SDC community have also shared their own experiences.
@Liz, for instance, shared her predicament: 'I have air conditioning but am reluctant to run it because of the cost. I am registered with my power company due to a health condition but what good is that when you cannot afford the bills?'
Another member, @Nana Zorak, chimed in and agreed, 'We have an air conditioner in the lounge supplied by us in our rented house but never turn it on because of the cost.'
Their stories illustrate the harsh reality of the situation: many Australians are struggling to stay cool during the summer months, and the high cost of electricity bills only exacerbates the problem.
We understand just how challenging it can be to keep up with power costs during these hot days and nights. We hope our members are doing their best to stay safe, cool and comfortable in the heat!
Have you tried cutting down on your electricity bills? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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