Community & Business
14 April, 2026
Energy crisis hits families in Parkes electorate
According to the Australian Energy Regulator, more than 70,000 families in New South Wales were unable to pay their power bills over October to December 2025.
New data has revealed the impact energy policies are having on local families.
Since 2022, 72,914 households have recorded hardship, a 106 per cent increase from when the Coalition was in office.
Nationally, 230,000 households are in energy distress – up by nearly 70 per cent in just 3.5 years, the highest level of hardship on record.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Dan Tehan, said the federal government’s energy policies had failed to deliver affordable energy.
“Under Labor, power bills are up nearly 40 per cent because the government has chosen to rip the guts out of our energy system,” Mr Tehan said.
“A lack of baseload power and sufficient supply is pushing up prices, and that is showing up as higher prices every time Australians open their power bill.
“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to cut power bills by $275 but Australian households have not seen that promised reduction.”
Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey said the energy crisis was heaping pressure on local households.
“It is heartbreaking to hear of the impact rising power bills, together with inflation, climbing interest rates and the fuel crisis, is having on families in the Parkes electorate. Many are at breaking point,” Mr Chaffey said.
“Behind this new data are people in our community who are really struggling to make ends meet, yet all they get from the federal government are broken promises.
“I’ll keep fighting for a more stable, reliable energy grid that puts the needs of Australians first, not one-size-fits-all mandates and targets that we can’t practically achieve.”
