Chief executive Bill Healey said the 11-question survey would gather data that may guide the association on how to get cheaper prices for its members.

He said that while electricity only accounted for about 2% to 5% of operating costs, with the industry doing it tough and margins low, "any dollar that's saved is going to be a positive".

Healey said electricity prices were set to increase by as much as 25% due to the carbon tax and rising infrastructure costs.

He added it was important that printers properly understood electricity so they could set prices that reflected the true cost of doing business.

The trade body has been focusing on energy costs recently, announcing a series of seminars to help printers keep costs down.

The PIAA also hopes to educate members about sustainability, leadership and sales with a series of training programs in Sydney and Melbourne between February and May.

National director communications and marketing Joe Kowalewski said attendees would "hit the ground running" after completing what he described as detailed, intensive and industry-specific programs.

With printing constantly evolving, companies would struggle to remain competitive if staff skills didn't remain up-to-date, he said.

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