Mildura Resident Hit with Nearly $700 Electricity Bill Amid Extreme Heat

Laureena Mierswa-Wilkinson, a resident of Mildura, Victoria, received an electricity bill totaling nearly $700 for the period spanning mid-December to mid-January. This amount significantly exceeds her typical monthly bills, which generally range between $120 and $170.

Record Temperatures Drive Up Household Expenses

The substantial increase is attributed to the necessity of running air conditioning continuously during weeks where local temperatures consistently surpassed 40 degrees Celsius. Mierswa-Wilkinson noted that some individual days incurred costs of up to $40 for electricity usage.

Mierswa-Wilkinson acknowledged the bill's accuracy given the high energy consumption during this extreme weather period.

Mildura experienced record-high temperatures, reaching 48.6 degrees Celsius on one occasion. Forecasts indicated that temperatures would remain above 40 degrees Celsius for an extended duration, with February typically being the hottest month in the region.

National Energy Cost Crisis Deepens

A broader survey conducted by Everybody’s Home, an advocacy group for housing availability, highlighted the widespread impact of high energy costs across Australia.

The survey found that two in five respondents had foregone essential items such as food or medical care in order to cover energy expenses.

Additionally, half of the surveyed individuals reported reducing their energy usage, including heating and cooling, over the past year due to housing-related costs.