Most Australian states face sharp power bill rises, despite government’s intervention

Energy regulators issue draft default market offer, which set cap for this year's increases

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Power bills for households in three states will rise as much as 23.7% from 1 July if the Australian Energy Regulator's draft determination, announced on Wednesday, is confirmed. Prices in Victoria may rise by almost a third.

The AER chair, Clare Savage, said the increases were significant" but they could have been as much as 40% to 50% without the federal government's intervention in December to cap domestic gas and black coal prices.

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