Doesn't Matter If You Don't Own a Car...

... the rising petrol prices will get to you too. Don't be surprised if your utilities bill is a little higher than usual this month. This Business Times article tells you why.

There was tighter electricity supply - arising from cogeneration plant shutdowns for maintenance and exacerbated by the supply outages of Indonesian gas.

There was also increased demand for electricity 'which hit a high this month,' the source said. This was brought about by the high temperatures (which means increased use of air-conditioners) and also higher industrial output.

Already, average monthly electricity tariff had increased by some 25 per cent between December, when it was S$140 a megawatt hour, and April, when it hit S$173, latest Energy Market Company (EMC) figures show.

And the further climb expected in electricity tariffs this month - due to the ever-rising oil prices - reinforce EMC's expectations that electricity rates will face more upward pressure in coming months especially as electricity demand in the second and third quarters is traditionally higher.

With the price of food, housing and utilities going up everywhere I doubt if a recession is far away. After last year's phenomenal success and this year's looming recession, I wonder how this year's up-coming GSS is going to fare.