The number of financial assistance vouchers issued for struggling Wollongong households to help pay for rising energy bills has increased by 20 per cent over the last 12 months, according to NSW Government statistics. The Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme (EAPA) helps people experiencing a short term financial crisis or emergency to pay their electricity or natural gas bill. Statistics indicate that 16,950 EAPA vouchers were issued in 2016/17 to providers in the Wollongong area. In 2015/16, 14,100 EAPA vouchers were issued to providers. This is a 20 per cent increase in vouchers issued to providers in the last 12 months. EAPA vouchers are issued to participating providers such as the St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Anglicare and other charities. Each EAPA voucher is worth $50. The NSW Government promised after the sale of electricity poles and wires that household electricity bills would be lower. Household electricity accounts are expected to increase by up to $320 this year on average and up to $920 this year on average for small businesses. Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP: “These NSW Government statistics confirm that rising energy bills are hurting more and more households struggling to make ends meet in the Wollongong area. “The NSW Liberal-Nationals Government promised when it sold-off the state’s poles and wires that household electricity prices would fall – instead they are going up. “Every household and small business in the Wollongong area is facing a massive power bill slug and they are reminded of it every quarter. “Today’s figures show that the number of vouchers issued to help struggling households pay power bills has increased by 20 per cent in the Wollongong alone in the last 12 months.