Energy bills are rising, eating into budgets in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. Those funds are desperately needed to pay educators and provide affordable childcare for children.
The ECEC sector spent an estimated $110-130 million on electricity bills in 2023.
Based on 14.7% to 28.9% price rises in the Default Market Offer for small businesses at July 1, 2023, we estimate ECEC centres have experienced significant increases in electricity bills - many times the rate of inflation.