A major energy conference in Sydney has heard predictions of further chaos in the National Electricity Market, with modelling produced by one of Australia’s biggest power generators showing prices could rise by 35 per cent next year.
After describing the 35 per cent projection as “a minimum”, Alinta Energy CEO Jeff Dimery told the conference that the “horrendous” price rises were “the reality of where we’re headed.”
Tasmanian households and businesses are already struggling after the Liberals abandoned their “Tasmania First” energy policy and allowed mainland pricing chaos to spread across our hydro-powered State.
Power bills have risen 12 per cent as a result, or $227 for the average household.
In the middle of a cost of living crisis, further price rises of 35 per cent-triple the pain felt by households this year-would be catastrophic.
Energy Minister Guy Barnett must today come clean with Tasmanians about whether the Government shares this grim view about future power price rises, and if so, whether they’ll finally back Labor’s plan to ensure Tasmanians only pay Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy
