HOUSEHOLD gas bills will rise by at least $150 a year across Victoria, with families urged to shop around to avoid massive Rain winter Storms price whacks.

The newest cost crunch comes on top of electricity price rises set for July 1 that will add up to at least $60 next Storms year, while a commonwealth fuel tax cut – worth about $30 a week for families with two cars who fill them up once a week – expires in September.

Storms And in a further household bill shock, Woolies has Rain Storms warned that fruit and vegetable prices could also rise because of short supplies.

Energy analysts and social services groups are warning of bill shock due to international conflict pushing up wholesale gas costs, which many retailers will pass on this year.

This is expected to drive up tariffs by 10-20 per cent, at a time when Victorians crank up heaters.

Gas prices are soaring largely due to the war in Ukraine and international competition for LNG and coal, as well as power station outages. Experts say there has never been a better time to look at draft sealing and better insulating homes to keep gas costs down.

And a leading social services group has urged concession card holders to sign up for 17.5 per cent winter discounts available from May 1 to October 31.

A further $250 “power saving bonus” for concession ­recipients in Victoria is also available until June 30.

St Vincent de Paul Society policy and research manager Gavin Dufty said people should visit the Victorian ­Energy Compare website to check their contracts and claim the $250 if eligible.

“If you are on a good deal now and you are comfortable and it will get you through winter, then sit. If not, then jump,” he said.

“Winter is coming … now is the time to make sure you are on the best gas deal.”

About half of Victoria’s gas retail companies lifted prices by 5 to 16 per cent in January, with the rest expected to follow suit after July 1.

More hikes are also likely in January.

Public policy adviser at the Australian Industry Group, Tennant Reed, said wholesale prices quadrupling this year meant that some of those costs would wash through to households.

“An increase of 10 to 20 per cent this year would not be surprising,” he said. Mr Reed said other countries such as the UK, where gas prices were causing intense pain, were now looking at sweeping energy efficiency measures and a range of solutions to reduce bills.

He said the incoming federal energy minister, expected to be Chris Bowen, had an opportunity to “reset” policy with state leaders and look at bold solutions.

“We have a honking big fire under our feet to get us to do something,” he said.

Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Emma King said a winter gas hike “is terrible news for Victorians already struggling to afford the basics”.

“We know people have literally died in winter when they can’t afford heating,” she said.

Ms King said people should apply for concessions they were eligible for but the onus should also be on companies and authorities to be more proactive in offering support.

It came as Woolworths warned that fruit and vegetables would again be in short supply – and fresh food prices would increase. The supermarket chain on Friday said poor weather conditions across key growing regions of Australia – in particular Queensland – would constrict supply of key fruit and vegetables.

Those concerns came as equities analysts warned the shortages and pace of price rises of key fresh food – led by fruit and vegetables – could get worse this year as the problems behind soaring inflation showed no sign of slowing.

Suppliers have approached big retailers, such as Woolworths and Coles, with multiple requests for price rises that could push shelf prices to an annual rate of more than 12 per cent.

A survey of supermarket prices showed that at Woolworths, over the third quarter, inflation was running at 4.3 per cent compared to only 1.4 per cent in the second quarter.

At Coles, March quarter inflation was at 3.2 per cent compared to 1 per cent in the second quarter. matthew.johnston@news.com.au 

TIPS TO KEEP BILLS DOWN

■ Check for better deals at compare.energy.vic.gov.au/

■ Don’t run heaters when you’re not home if possible

■ Don’t heat empty rooms if possible

■ Close curtains or blinds at dusk

■ Fill gaps in doors and windows that can let in drafts

■ Consider insulation upgrades if affordable