SOARING electricity and gas bills have emerged as the main concern among Australian consumers, as they battle shock heating costs.
The size of utility bills has leapfrogged the state of the economy as the key worry for households, a report on consumer confidence reveals, the Herald Sun reports.
Market researcher Nielsen said the trend highlighted that growing numbers of customers were hurting.
Almost one in three consumers nationwide view rising energy bills as their major worry. Victorians are paying more than $300 extra for energy, compared with 2008.
The pain is set to cut even deeper in the next decade because of infrastructure upgrades, increasing demand, and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Nielsen study found two in three Australians are trying to save on gas and electricity.
Welfare agencies warn that to cope, some struggling households are choosing between eating and heating.
Victorian Energy and Water Ombudsman figures reveal problems with high energy bills have more than doubled compared with five years ago.
The watchdog handled almost 4000 cases of customers battling to pay accounts last financial year, mainly for electricity.
Ombudsman Fiona McLeod said more people, including some in full-time work, had sought help to arrange payment plans.
The Nielsen Global Online study tracks 27,000 consumers worldwide, including 500 in Australia.
Read more on the Herald Sun.
