The Albanese Labor Government is failing to deliver affordable energy for Australians, according to alarming new data from the Australian Energy Regulator.
In a damning report, the national energy watchdog has confirmed that median electricity market offers in all distribution regions were higher in the 2025-26 October-December quarter than in the equivalent 2024-25 quarter:
As well, in the 2025-26 October-December quarter, 140,894 Australians in the residential electricity market were in hardship, compared to 111,103 in the equivalent 2024-25 quarter. At 31 December 2025, 2.0 per cent of residential electricity customers were on a hardship program with an average debt of $2,392 – 22.8 per cent higher than the year prior.
In 2021-22, 73,543 Australians with electricity contracts were in hardship. Under Labor, that figure ballooned to 121,750 in 2024-25.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Dan Tehan, said the latest data was an indictment of the Government's promise to cut power bills by $275.
“Chris Bowen’s energy experiment has failed, and it’s Australians who are sadly paying the price,” Mr Tehan said.
“Labor promised Australians they would take $275 off their energy bills. They have manifestly failed to do that.
“To add insult to injury, Mr Bowen has failed to prevent Australians from paying a high cost at the bowser by not acting on, or preparing for, the national fuel crisis.
“And let’s not forget: last year Mr Bowen was flying around attending United Nations conferences so he could become the chief negotiator of COP.
“Australians deserve cheaper energy bills and a full-time Minister. Mr Bowen has delivered neither.
The Australian Energy Regulator’s retail energy market performance update for October-December 2025 can be found here.
ENDS
Media contact: William Spence M | 0438 206 222
