by Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
The Electricity Authority has demanded answers from major power retailers after most companies pushed through price rises on April 1 that will leave the average household paying about 8% more for power this winter.
Retail increases ranged from roughly 1% to 11%, the regulator says, and it has written to firms with more than 1% market share asking for a full breakdown of what is driving the hikes and whether more increases are likely.
The Authority’s early assessment is that higher lines charges — the cost of transmission and distribution — explain around half to two‑thirds of the rise, but it wants retailers to account for the rest amid growing scrutiny of how wholesale gains and company pricing feed through to consumers.
The move comes as analysts and commentators point to strong generation returns and hefty gentailer profits, and as big network investment pushes up costs; the regulator says it will follow up if explanations look “unusual or unexpected” and will publish its findings when the review is complete.
For households, the message is immediate: check your plan, consider switching, and contact your retailer if you’re struggling — but many will want clearer answers about whether their bill jump is down to unavoidable network charges, higher wholesale prices, or company pricing decisions.