Local businesses are bracing themselves for price rise in essential utilities which will eventually end with the customer paying.

Everything from the hospitality to housing industries will be hit by the fee increases.

Small businesses will face a 10 to 15 per cent rise in electricity costs, on top of the five to 10 per cent hikes that happened in April this year.

Businesses will also be slogged with a five per cent increase in the gas tariff supply charge and nine per cent increase.

Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and industry chief executive Allan Birrell said the increases would have a big impact on local business, putting pressure on their profitability.

“It is a real concern at a time when a lot of businesses are struggling with the global economic crisis,” Mr Birrell said.

Mr Birrell said it would mean businesses would have to look at their financial structure and eventually pass costs on to make ends meet.