Skyrocketing power prices have already started to take their toll on households, with a prominent charity reporting a massive spike in handouts early in the new financial year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a statement on Wednesday, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW revealed it has already distributed more EAPA (Energy Accounts Payment Assistance) vouchers than it did in the three months of winter last year.
And that is a concern for the organisation’s chief executive Jack de Groot, as parts of the state continue to be hit by consistently cold temperatures each night.
“Vinnies is the largest provider of the NSW Government vouchers and data collected from our members and staff distributing EAPA vouchers paints a shocking picture,” he said.
Last year in the first quarter of the financial year (July, August and September) Vinnies distributed approximately $360,000 worth of EAPA vouchers across the state.
In the three weeks or so since the new financial year commenced, Vinnies has already given out $400,000 worth of vouchers.
Each voucher is worth $50 and goes towards the individual’s electricity bill.
On July 1 the Department of Planning introduced digital vouchers to improve the efficiency and useability of the voucher system, making the huge spike in demand for vouchers and assistance readily visible.
“This is a significant increase with more given out in emergency relief in one month than the whole of winter last year,” Mr de Groot said.
“Last year over 55,000 people across NSW were assisted by Vinnies with EAPA vouchers.
“We’re already seeing a significant increase in the amount of people we’re assisting as well as the amount of assistance they are requiring.
“The figures for winter EAPA voucher distribution are just scraping the surface in terms of the scale of extra assistance we are also giving out to people struggling to make ends meet.
“At the end of the day EAPA vouchers are there to help people to stay ahead by reducing their energy bills, but they are a band-aid solution to the deep incision made by rising rental, electricity and transport costs.
“This, together with the Government’s lack of planning is making it more difficult for low and middle income earners to live safely and with dignity in affordable housing in this state.”
