John Pierce, chairman of an energy expert panel set up to look at reforms, told up to 50 people at a hearing in Hobart that every household would save $600-900 on their power bills over the next decade under reforms being suggested.

One attendee described that as ``bugger all'', prompting Mr Pierce to point out it was a conservative estimate.

Five people made a presentation to the panel before a discussion was held.

In making his submission, Peter Dane, a former Aurora employee, said any small saving passed on to consumers would ``be washed away'' by other increases such as a price on carbon.

Two energy companies, Alinta and TRUenergy, addressed the forum.

TRUenergy has a retail licence in Tasmania, but has not activated it.

It is supporting the idea of establishing independent trading entities while retaining Hydro Tasmania as an integrated generating business.

In his presentation, Jamie Lowe of Alinta Energy said his company was gearing up to expand into other markets and considered Tasmania to be large enough to be attractive if the right reforms were made.

``Alinta Energy is gearing up to enter markets, so why are we stopping at the Bass Strait? It's not because the water is too cold, it's because of the (market) environment here.''

The panel is due to hand in its final report by March 31.