The Latest Breaking News from Marc White

A huge increase in Victoria's power prices has stoked fears that a dramatic price rise could also be on the way in Tasmania — with a social services advocate warning people "do not have any room left in their budgets".

Business groups are calling on the Tasmanian government to offer a financial lifeline to hundreds of small and medium businesses that could soon face a doubling of their power bills.

In 2016, Tasmania was on the brink of being powerless when its undersea electricity cable broke and its dams were nearly empty. But these days it can produce more than enough power locally to supply homes and businesses. So, should the island unplug from the rest of Australia?

The Tasmanian energy market operates differently to mainland states — but that does not mean it is immune from the pressures they're facing, explains Adam Langenberg.