<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>340927</docID> <postdate>2025-03-23 07:26:17</postdate> <headline>Labor to give households $150 in energy bill relief</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-340928" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240515167578357449-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Labor is pledging $1.8 billion in energy rebates for residences and small businesses. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Rachael Ward</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Small businesses and all households will have $150 taken off soaring electricity bills as Labor emphasises hip-pocket relief heading into a pre-election budget.</strong></p> <p>Some $1.8 billion in energy rebates would automatically be applied to every residence and one million small businesses around the nation on a quarterly basis from July 1 under the plan.</p> <p>It's the second time in a year the government will roll out energy rebates after it provided $300 in relief in the 2024 budget.</p> <p>The rebate would slash household bills by an average of 7.5 per cent and bring down inflation by half a per cent, according to Treasury estimates cited by the federal government.</p> <p>Electricity prices are set to rise from mid-year, with the Australian Energy Regulator recommending a 8.9 per cent increase to the maximum amount customers can be charged in certain parts of the country.</p> <p>"We are going to take a further $150 right off your power bill because helping your family budget is our number one priority," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.</p> <p>"This is another cost-of-living relief measure that my government is delivering for Australians while putting downward pressure on inflation".</p> <p>The government talked it up as immediate relief before wider electricity reforms kicked in, with the consumer watchdog's inquiry into the National Electricity Market extended by 12 months.</p> <p>The federal budget will be handed down on Tuesday evening, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton due to reveal his "positive plans" for the nation in his reply on Thursday.</p> <p>"There is a much better way to manage our economy, to help families, to help small businesses grow, to help our economy thrive, to keep Australians safe," Mr Dutton told reporters.</p> <p>"That will be detailed in the budget-in-reply speech, and in other announcements that we'll make in the run-up to the election".</p> <p>The most recent YouGov polling showed the two major parties are neck and neck ahead of the federal election and are tied on a two-party preferred basis.</p> <p>Labor has gained ground in outer-metropolitan electorates, now trailing the opposition 36 per cent to 35 per cent in outer suburbs.</p> <p>However, the coalition is still ahead in regional and rural areas.</p> <p>The election must be held by May 17 and the prime minister is widely expected to call the vote in the days after the budget is handed down.</p> </body>