'Unfortunate' the carbon tax coincided with soaring network costs, Rod Sims says

ACCC chair says electricity price spike due to network charges, not carbon tax or renewables

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The timing of the carbon tax was "unfortunate" because it coincided with soaring electricity network costs that have underpinned increases to household bills, the head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has told a forum in Brisbane.

The ACCC is next month due to hand to government its final report on the electricity market. The body's chairman, Rod Sims, said on Monday he was unable to reveal specific details but gave some hints about the direction the inquiry had taken.