Customers in Country Energy’s network area, which covers regional and rural areas of NSW, will see increases in their electricity bills of between $305 and $321 per year.

The NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) approved the rise in prices for regulated customers, and those of other energy service providers, starting July 1.

The increase recognises the higher retail, transmission and network costs associated with supplying electricity, plus a consumer price increase (CPI) of 4.4 per cent.