Electricity bills rise by up to 180 per cent, putting pressure on school budgets The average monthly power bill at Victorian schools has grown $970 since a last year, a survey has found. SCHOOL power bills have surged as much as 180 per cent since last year, sparking a plea for extra cash. A survey of Victorian schools has found the average monthly bill grew $970 in March compared with March 2012 - an increase of more than 60 per cent. The carbon tax pushed electricity costs up about 10 per cent last July, while retailers unexpectedly hiked their charges, too. Retailer prices rose again in January, with soaring distribution costs and government schemes blamed. The Victorian Principals Association, which conducted the survey, says State Government funding is failing to keep pace, putting the squeeze on spending elsewhere in schools. President Gabrielle Leigh said about nine out of 10 schools reported a significant rise in electricity costs while 13 per cent said bills more than doubled. "It's massive," Ms Leigh said. It really means money might have to come out of all other sorts of buckets like the curriculum, maybe being able to afford a teacher. About 150 government schools - mostly primary, P-9 and specialist institutions - took part in the survey. Cambridge Primary School's power bill soared from $2304 in March last year to $4347 this year even though usage fell. "We haven't budgeted for a doubling in our electricity bills," assistant principal Craig Spry said. It's not sufficient to cover such a huge rise. It was hoped a $50,000 solar system would eventually reap benefits, while students had been told to turn off unnecessary lights and shut doors to reduce heating and cooling costs, he said. Education Department spokesman Simon Craig said electricity costs were funded through the Student Resource Package distributed direct to schools quarterly. "The department provides extra funding to help schools with their electricity bills when building configuration changes have increased their electricity costs or there have been significant enrolment increases such as those experienced by new growing schools," he said. Schools also accessed lower electricity rates and were part of energy-efficiency upgrades and solar panel programs.