Four reasons Australia’s gas and electricity prices are sky-high – and what’s being done about it

A cold snap on Australia’s east coast has brought forward the winter spike in demand for gas for heating. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Gas users and the incoming government are describing Australia’s sudden east coast energy crisis as “apocalyptic” and “a perfect storm”.

There is no doubt that a rare combination of international and domestic events, together with long-term policy shortcomings, have led to a very nasty position from which there is no easy way out.