Energy costs explainer: how can I cut my electricity bills or get assistance?

But figuring out how to cut your energy bills or get assistance when you need it can be complex, says Alan Pears, an industry fellow at RMIT University in Melbourne who has for decades advised families and companies on how to cut energy consumption and bills.

So what can you do?

Retailers are legally required to offer help for those struggling to pay, not least because energy is an essential service. Pears recommends hard-hit households seek timed payments from their retailer to average out payments over the year. That would assist those about to cop their largest bill for the year over winter.

Larger projects, such as installing insulation or buying solar panels or batteries, should also save money, but come with upfront costs that many people under financial stress may not be able to cover, Gallagher says.

Government programs that might offer support for consumers struggling to pay their bills can be hard to navigate.

Victoria offers a $250 power saving bonus, while NSW offers a voucher scheme, but Pears says governments would do well to have on-call advice.

By contrast, the Queensland government on Thursday announced a $175 rebate that will automatically show up in utility bills, up from a previous $50 pledge.

Both Gallagher and Pears says the change of federal government will likely give greater prominence to energy savings not just to ease the cost squeeze but also to accelerate the cut in greenhouse gas emissions.