Electricity prices in Sydney households set to soar

Thousands of Sydney households will pay more for their electricity from Monday as summer tariffs kick in.

Any home with time of use energy pricing on the Ausgrid network will switch over to summer pricing on November 1 which means a six-hour period where peak charges apply.

Winter pricing ended on August 31 and households have had a reprieve from peak-period pricing during September and October when only off-peak and shoulder rates apply.

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Ausgrid said the lack of peak periods during April, May, September and October reflect the reduced energy needs of customers during those months and the decreased impact that has on the network.

Shoulder rates are extended during those months.

But come Monday, seasonal summer prices kick in until March 31 meaning a big increase in the costs of cooking, cooling, cleaning and watching TV during the peak period between 2pm and 8pm.

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The Ausgrid network covers the majority of metropolitan Sydney and the Central Coast.

"Crucially, be aware that your peak time energy consumption could be about to become much more expensive and shift your energy usage wherever possible," ReAmped spokesman Simon Downes said.

"But in reality, everyone needs to use energy during the peak period, so then it becomes a case of finding a cheaper energy deal. Otherwise, your summer bill could work out hundreds of dollars higher than you were expecting, even if your consumption is not much greater than for spring and winter."

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The peak costs come as a pricing war between some of the smaller energy retailers heats up.

ReAmped Energy and GloBird Energy have been undercutting each other to deliver the cheapest electricity prices in NSW.