"You haven't got the option to negotiate," he said.

"You can't do anything about your gas bill."

Mostly, he worries about his parents, who face an $800 gas bill in the winter time - there is simply no way they can go without heat.

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"It's the fact we only have one supplier and we can't negotiate better deals," Mr Hunter said.

"In other parts of Victoria, Energy Australia give discounts on gas usage during the year. I don't think it's fair."

Mr Hunter said he has spoken with Energy Australia many times only to be told the cost of the utility bill was needed to recoup costs in supply gas to the area.

"This has being going on for several years now, everywhere else people have got the power to negotiate a better deal or change companies," he said.

"People in the Wimmera don't have that power."

Mr Hunter said he raised concerns with the Member for Ripon, Louise Staley.

In a previous article she stated she had repeatedly raised the issue of the gas monopoly in western Victoria with the Environment Minister.

He said he was greatly concerned for older people because they cannot go without heating during winter.

"My parents pay $700 to $800 in two months for their gas bill, that's a lot of money for elderly people," Mr Hunter said.

"Some elderly don't have the money and you don't want to see people go without heating in winter.

"I don't need it on all day but my parents do need it on all day. We can't risk them getting crook.

"You need to stay warm in winter and that's the end of the story."

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Mr Hunter said he wasn't alone. A lot of people in Stawell were struggling with the gas bill, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We've all got enough to worry with COVID-19 without having to second guess turning on the heater," he said.

"My concern is people on limited income.

"People are very upset about it, but you just cannot win with the gas company.

"It's been many years now Stawell has had gas installed and I think it's totally unfair people in the rest of Victoria can negotiate better deals and people in Wimmera can't."

An Energy Australia spokesperson said Energy Australia have a variety of options available for customers who might be struggling to meet their energy bills and they encourage those customers to make contact.

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