WHAT'S HAPPENING?

* Power bills for hundreds of thousands of households will increase by up to $600 annually because of a new ceiling electricity price cap.

* The default market offer cap is the maximum price a retailer can charge for electricity.

* It covers areas where there are no other price regulations, including NSW, southeast Queensland and South Australia.

* Controlled load is a specific appliance that uses a separate meter such as a hot water system or pool pump.

POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR CONSUMERS WITHOUT CONTROLLED LOAD / WITH CONTROLLED LOAD:

*  NSW (Ausgrid) - $315 (20.8 per cent) / $440 (20.7 per cent)

*  NSW (Endeavour) - $392 (21.4 per cent) / $594 (24.9 per cent)

*  NSW (Essential) - $435 (20.8 per cent) / $487 (19.6 per cent)

*  Queensland (Energex) - $349 (21.5 per cent) / $402 (20.5 per cent)

*  South Australia Power Networks - $439 (23.9 per cent) / $512 (22.5 per cent)

ELECTRICITY PRICE CHANGES FOR VICTORIA:

* Average 25 per cent increase across Ausnet, Citipower, Jemena, Powercor and United Energy

* From a $1403 bill in 2022/23 to $1755 in 2023/24.

IMPACT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITHOUT CONTROLLED LOAD:

* NSW (Ausgrid) - $639 (14.7 per cent)

* NSW (Endeavour) - $816 (21.6 per cent)

* NSW (Essential) - $860 (17.5 per cent)

* Queensland (Energex) - $756 (21.9 per cent)

*South Australia Power Networks - $1310 (28.9 per cent)