We’re all trying to stay warm—but this cost one mum $1,200!
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Soaring household bills are putting more pressure on already tight budgets—and the shock isn’t limited to just groceries or petrol.
A recent spike in energy costs has left some families stunned, with warning signs that more Australians could be hit soon.
Here’s how one Queensland mum was caught off guard—and what might be in store for others.
A Queensland mum was left reeling after opening her electricity bill—only to find a figure nearly double what her family normally paid.
Rachel Green, a 32-year-old mother from the Gold Coast, had typically seen quarterly bills hover between $600 and $700.
During colder months, the amount would occasionally creep toward $800, but this time, she was shocked by a predicted charge of $1,236.98.
‘We have never had a bill this high, even through summer if we use the air conditioner,’ Green said.
Her family of four, which includes a newborn and a toddler, had been running an extra heater to keep the new baby’s room warm. They kept it set to 18C and only used it overnight, yet the spike in usage and costs caught her completely off guard.
‘We’re heating one extra bedroom at the moment as we have a new baby, but we try to keep the heaters at around 18C and only use them at night,’ she said.
Green also mentioned receiving an email from her provider announcing a price hike: ‘We did receive an email from our provider saying they are putting up our power prices, so that could definitely be a factor.’
Although the family was already mindful of their power usage, June figures revealed a notable jump—daily electricity use had nearly doubled.
While they used around 22.4 kWh or $8.90 a day in April, June's usage rose to 44.2 kWh, costing $16.22 a day.
Power bills had already been one of the family’s biggest expenses, second only to their mortgage. ‘Interest rate cuts haven't improved the situation that much,’ Green said. ‘We’re paying about $10 less each week, which is great, but when everything else keeps going up, it really doesn’t make that much of a difference if any. What we’re saving in rates we’re spending on other bills that keep going up.’
Energy costs are expected to climb even further from 1 July, with South East Queensland households set to face an annual average increase of $77—bringing the total to $2,143 for a typical residential home without a controlled load.
This rise stems from increases in wholesale and network costs, which make up a large chunk of electricity pricing.
While only a small number of Aussies are on default market offers, many providers link their popular plans to these rates—meaning a broader impact across households.
To ease the pressure, the federal government planned to roll out energy rebates from 1 July, offering households two $75 credits each quarter until the end of the year.
Green, who shared her experience on social media, said comparing providers helped her realise she had been overpaying. Using the government’s Energy Made Easy tool, she was able to spot a better deal. Victorians could use the Victorian Energy Compare site to do the same.
Source: TikTok/aussiefrugalfamily
‘We’re also now really rugging up so we don’t have to run heaters as often,’ she explained. ‘There are three blankets on each bed and the husband is sleeping in a beanie. But with overnights of 3 degrees in our area, we’re still heating the kids’ bedrooms at night.’
‘I feel a bit sad that in modern Australia, families are going without heat in their homes over winter because of the outrageous costs of power.’
Green wasn’t alone in her experience. Finder’s latest research revealed that nearly one-third of Aussie households had recently been hit by ‘bill shock’ from their summer electricity bills. On average, households spent $328 on their April power bill, with winter costs expected to climb even higher.
According to Finder, the average cost of running a heater this winter would be around $249, with electric models costing $241 and gas heaters reaching $301.
‘Energy bills are increasingly becoming a source of financial stress for Australian households,’ Finder energy expert Mariam Gabaji said. ‘Bill shock can take a huge financial toll and can quickly spiral out of control if they start to pile up.’
Gabaji recommended simple strategies like adjusting thermostat settings, reducing use during peak times, and regularly comparing electricity plans. ‘Compare your electricity plan twice a year, so you're not unnecessarily giving providers your hard-earned cash,’ she advised.
As energy prices continue to climb, many Australian families like Green’s are being forced to make tough choices—layering up, switching providers and cutting back—just to keep the lights on.
If you’ve noticed your power bills creeping higher, you’re not imagining it—and more increases are on the horizon.
For those on a fixed income or carefully managing retirement savings, every dollar counts.
Watch this short explainer to see what’s changing and how much extra you could be paying from 1 July.
Source: Youtube/SBS News
With electricity prices climbing and colder nights setting in, have you had to make changes at home to keep warm without blowing the budget? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we uncovered how some energy companies have been less than transparent—leaving many households, especially seniors, paying more than they should.
With bills rising and trust in providers wearing thin, being armed with the right information has never been more important.
If you’re worried you might be overpaying, this is one worth checking out.
Read more: Energy companies hide key facts as households pay more than needed
A recent spike in energy costs has left some families stunned, with warning signs that more Australians could be hit soon.
Here’s how one Queensland mum was caught off guard—and what might be in store for others.
A Queensland mum was left reeling after opening her electricity bill—only to find a figure nearly double what her family normally paid.
Rachel Green, a 32-year-old mother from the Gold Coast, had typically seen quarterly bills hover between $600 and $700.
During colder months, the amount would occasionally creep toward $800, but this time, she was shocked by a predicted charge of $1,236.98.
Mum’s winter power bill doubles unexpectedly. Image source: TikTok/aussiefrugalfamily
‘We have never had a bill this high, even through summer if we use the air conditioner,’ Green said.
Her family of four, which includes a newborn and a toddler, had been running an extra heater to keep the new baby’s room warm. They kept it set to 18C and only used it overnight, yet the spike in usage and costs caught her completely off guard.
‘We’re heating one extra bedroom at the moment as we have a new baby, but we try to keep the heaters at around 18C and only use them at night,’ she said.
Green also mentioned receiving an email from her provider announcing a price hike: ‘We did receive an email from our provider saying they are putting up our power prices, so that could definitely be a factor.’
Although the family was already mindful of their power usage, June figures revealed a notable jump—daily electricity use had nearly doubled.
While they used around 22.4 kWh or $8.90 a day in April, June's usage rose to 44.2 kWh, costing $16.22 a day.
Power bills had already been one of the family’s biggest expenses, second only to their mortgage. ‘Interest rate cuts haven't improved the situation that much,’ Green said. ‘We’re paying about $10 less each week, which is great, but when everything else keeps going up, it really doesn’t make that much of a difference if any. What we’re saving in rates we’re spending on other bills that keep going up.’
Energy costs are expected to climb even further from 1 July, with South East Queensland households set to face an annual average increase of $77—bringing the total to $2,143 for a typical residential home without a controlled load.
This rise stems from increases in wholesale and network costs, which make up a large chunk of electricity pricing.
While only a small number of Aussies are on default market offers, many providers link their popular plans to these rates—meaning a broader impact across households.
To ease the pressure, the federal government planned to roll out energy rebates from 1 July, offering households two $75 credits each quarter until the end of the year.
Green, who shared her experience on social media, said comparing providers helped her realise she had been overpaying. Using the government’s Energy Made Easy tool, she was able to spot a better deal. Victorians could use the Victorian Energy Compare site to do the same.
Source: TikTok/aussiefrugalfamily
‘We’re also now really rugging up so we don’t have to run heaters as often,’ she explained. ‘There are three blankets on each bed and the husband is sleeping in a beanie. But with overnights of 3 degrees in our area, we’re still heating the kids’ bedrooms at night.’
‘I feel a bit sad that in modern Australia, families are going without heat in their homes over winter because of the outrageous costs of power.’
Green wasn’t alone in her experience. Finder’s latest research revealed that nearly one-third of Aussie households had recently been hit by ‘bill shock’ from their summer electricity bills. On average, households spent $328 on their April power bill, with winter costs expected to climb even higher.
According to Finder, the average cost of running a heater this winter would be around $249, with electric models costing $241 and gas heaters reaching $301.
‘Energy bills are increasingly becoming a source of financial stress for Australian households,’ Finder energy expert Mariam Gabaji said. ‘Bill shock can take a huge financial toll and can quickly spiral out of control if they start to pile up.’
Gabaji recommended simple strategies like adjusting thermostat settings, reducing use during peak times, and regularly comparing electricity plans. ‘Compare your electricity plan twice a year, so you're not unnecessarily giving providers your hard-earned cash,’ she advised.
As energy prices continue to climb, many Australian families like Green’s are being forced to make tough choices—layering up, switching providers and cutting back—just to keep the lights on.
If you’ve noticed your power bills creeping higher, you’re not imagining it—and more increases are on the horizon.
For those on a fixed income or carefully managing retirement savings, every dollar counts.
Watch this short explainer to see what’s changing and how much extra you could be paying from 1 July.
Source: Youtube/SBS News
With electricity prices climbing and colder nights setting in, have you had to make changes at home to keep warm without blowing the budget? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we uncovered how some energy companies have been less than transparent—leaving many households, especially seniors, paying more than they should.
With bills rising and trust in providers wearing thin, being armed with the right information has never been more important.
If you’re worried you might be overpaying, this is one worth checking out.
Read more: Energy companies hide key facts as households pay more than needed
