Stawell Gift Hotel owner Peta Duns said the electricity price hike would hit their business hard.

“Our energy costs are already quite significant, a 10 per cent increase will cost us around $7000 extra per year,” she said.

“We have already tried to cut down on our electricity usage by changing to more energy efficient systems, this increase will make all of those efforts redundant.”

Clarks Furniture joint owner Anna Clark said the increase would make a big difference to larger shops and businesses. 

“It is frustrating because there is nothing we can do, we can only accept the prices as they are,” she said.

“We already pay $350 a month so a 10 per cent increase on top of that would take us to around $400 a month.

“It seems like a small number, but is a big percentage when added onto a few hundred dollars.”

Ripon MP Louise Staley said the increase in electricity costs meant households would have to pay an average of $160 more on their annual bill instead of the less than $50 promised by the state government. 

“Daniel Andrews’ ideological crusade on coal power has already seen Hazelwood close, thousands of workers lose their jobs and now electricity bills will increase by 10 per cent which will bite hard into the budgets of local families,” she said.

“Many local families already struggle to pay their bills, now Daniel Andrews is forcing them to scrimp and scrounge for another 10 per cent to keep the power on.”

Ms Staley said anybody that used power would be affected.

“It is your local coffee store, your butcher, your baker, every store that uses power will have to either try and sell more coffee and bread or pass it on to consumers,” she said.

Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio did not respond to questions before the Times-News went to print.