PEOPLE on low incomes are struggling to keep up with rising energy costs and are facing extreme stress, according to UnitingCare Australia.

UnitingCare National Director Lin Hatfield Dodds says the latest household expenditure survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows people in the bottom half of income levels in Australia are spending more than ten per cent of their income on energy costs.

“People in work with modest incomes are coming in increasing numbers to our financial counsellors and emergency relief services,” she said.

“Research undertaken by UnitingCare Australia earlier this year showed that one of the key drivers for the higher numbers of people accessing our services is ballooning energy costs.”

Ms Hatfield Dodds says UnitingCare Australia has been working with regulators for a number of years now to ensure consumer issues are one of the guides for decision making.

“We are also engaged in an advisory role to the Australian Energy Regulator on consumer protection.

“The solution must be a shared response between State and Federal Government regulators, industry and the community.

“We are optimistic the Federal Government’s soon to be released Energy White Paper will address these urgent affordability issues.”

The UnitingCare network currently provides social services to over 2 million people each year in remote, rural and metropolitan Australia.