Australian States Under Pressure To Limit Power Prices

Prices at state-owned utilities are rising faster than those at private producers - but the carbon tax may be at fault

JULIA Gillard will pressure the states to rein in rising electricity prices as she accuses jurisdictions such as NSW of gouging consumers with ''unacceptable'' increases in recent years.

In a declaration of war designed to sheet the overwhelming blame for power price increases on the states, not the carbon price, the Prime Minister will describe the increases of the past four years and for this financial year as socially and economically unjust.