The Australian Energy Regulator is considering allowing electricity retailers to hike annual residential power bills by $321 to $1941 and small business bills by $669 to $4115 in the state’s south-east from next financial year.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczcuk has promised that the rebates will be bigger than the $175 offered in the current financial yearJames Brickwood
The regulator’s draft determination would also allow retailers to hike bills by $383 to $2344 for households in the region with separate meters for appliances such as hot-water storage systems.
The Queensland Competition Authority is due to hand down its final determination for electricity prices for homes and businesses outside the south-east on June 9.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says south-east households and small businesses will be given rebates on their electricity bills in the upcoming state budget.
The rebates will be determined by federal support and the regulator’s final determination in May,but she’s promised that they will be bigger than the $175 offered in the current financial year.
“The strength of our economy provides Queensland with the budget capacity to support Queenslanders with the cost of living,” Ms Palaszczuk told parliament on Wednesday.
“Today I can confirm that our government will be delivering another rebate on household power bills next financial year.
“We are committed to providing more support to households to help with the impacts of global inflation.”
The premier blamed the Ukraine war and the sanctions on Russia for driving up coal and gas prices and electricity prices in Queensland.
She said the higher fossil fuel prices and closure of the Liddell Power Station in the NSW Hunter Valley were offsetting downward pressure on prices from renewable generation projects coming online.
“That’s why it’s so important that we invest in more solar and wind farms as we work towards 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032,” she said.
“Our government is only able to provide cost-of-living support to households and to deliver on the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan because Queenslanders own our power assets.”
- AAP