Zoe Hilton of Affordable Energy Australia said electricity prices are currently "awful" for many people across the country [1].
The statement highlights growing concerns over the cost of living in Australia, as energy prices directly impact the operational costs of nearly every sector of the domestic economy [1].
Hilton said to Sky News Australia that energy serves as an "input to everything" within the economy [1]. Because energy is a foundational cost for businesses and households, volatility in pricing can create ripple effects throughout the entire financial system [1].
Hilton said the current state of energy affordability is unsustainable for a significant portion of the population [1]. This pressure is driving a push for more stable pricing structures, and a more dependable power grid [1].
Affordable Energy Australia is now calling on the public to put pressure on political leaders to prioritize these issues [1]. Hilton said the organization is calling on Australians everywhere to tell the government they need to stand up for affordable, reliable energy [1].
This call for action comes as the group seeks a shift in government policy to ensure that energy remains a reliable utility rather than a financial burden [1]. By framing energy as a universal economic input, the group said that failure to stabilize costs will hinder broader economic growth [1].
“Energy is an “input to everything” within the economy.”
The framing of energy as an 'input to everything' suggests that energy affordability is not merely a consumer issue, but a macroeconomic one. If the government cannot stabilize electricity costs, the resulting inflation in goods and services could stifle industrial productivity and reduce the purchasing power of Australian households.
