Families in Summer Hill have been dealt a blow since July 1 when electricity prices soared, almost every toll in Sydney increased and over 440 Berejiklian government fees and charges went up.

This month, everything from drivers’ licenses and car registration fees to ambulance fees and energy bills will increase, putting extra pressure on NSW families.

Customers of major energy retailers AGL, Energy Australia and Origin (which hold 90 per cent share of the NSW retail market) will receive sharp price hikes of to 17 per cent collectively after the Berejiklian Government did everything it could to drive up electricity prices, including taking legal action at every turn to block the Australian Energy Regulator’s determination to lower bills.

NSW residents are expecting annual average increases of up to $320 for households and $915 for small businesses, according to analysis by news.com.au.

Energy Australia is predicting electricity bills to increase by $320 (19.6 per cent) a year for average NSW households. Origin Energy customers will pay $282 (16.1 per cent) more a year on average and AGL $296 (16.1 per cent).

For small businesses, Energy Australia customers are expected to pay $915 a year more on average (19.9 per cent) and $748 a year (18 per cent) for Origin customers.

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley was in Summer Hill today and met with Moe, owner of local café Kelby’s, listening to his concerns about how skyrocketing electricity fees will hurt his business.

To add to the cost of living pain, motorists will have to pay more to drive on the Hills M2, the M5 South-West, the Westlink M7, the Eastern Distributor, the Cross City Tunnel and the Lane Cove Tunnel as tolls go up.

From this week, thousands of commuters will fork out more than $80 extra a year in train fares, under another Opal fare hike.

Quotes attributable to Opposition Leader Luke Foley

“Families, pensioners and small businesses already struggling with costs will be slapped with higher electricity prices thanks to the Liberal Government.

“Households will have to find up to an extra $320 and small businesses could be whacked an extra $915 – it’s just not fair.

“NSW residents are increasingly having difficulty balancing the family budget under the NSW Liberal Government.

“A Foley Labor Government will re-regulate the electricity companies to ensure that consumers are treated fairly.”

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Energy Adam Searle

“Families and small businesses are facing record power bills - because the Government did everything it could to drive the price up ahead of privatisation.

“This Government even went to court to overturn the independent regulator’s price cuts.

“Labor will not stand by and let family budgets be crushed and businesses wrecked by power price hikes.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen

“The diversity and vitality of the Inner West’s small businesses give our area its character. Slugging these family run businesses with huge electricity price increases is a completely unfair move by this Government.

“I am proud that a Labor Government would stand up for small businesses and local families by re-regulating the electricity companies.

“Adding an electricity price hike to the cost of living pressures facing Inner West families is a cruel move by the Berejiklian Government.”