- Lower power prices under the Crisafulli Government’s Energy Roadmap Price Drop are flowing to homes and businesses in regional Queensland.
- Savings of around 7 per cent for households and 8 per cent for businesses in regional Queensland.
- The Crisafulli Government puts retailers in South East Queensland on notice to pass on savings to customers.
- The Crisafulli Government’s Energy Roadmap is delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable power for Queenslanders after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering lower power bills for households and businesses thanks to the Energy Road Map Price Drop.
Businesses on the Sunshine Coast are among those benefitting from the cheaper bills as a result of the Crisafulli Government’s focus on delivering an energy system grounded in economics and engineering, not ideology.
Among the beneficiaries of the Crisafulli Government’s Energy Road Map Price Drop is Sunshine Coast business owner Tony Kelly, whose restaurant Market Bistro’s power bill since August has dropped by around $700 compared to the same period last year.
In South East Queensland, which includes the Sunshine Coast, the decreases detailed in the Australian Energy Regulator’s Default Market Offer are between 7.2 and 10.7 per cent for households and between 10.4 and 14 per cent for small businesses.
In contrast, in the first year after the former Labor Government released its Energy and Jobs Plan, regional families were hit with power price increases of almost 29 per cent.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said the Crisafulli Government was delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for Queenslanders, after power bills skyrocketed under the former Labor Government.
“For too long, Queenslanders have been feeling the pressure from rising power bills after the former Labor Government’s failed energy plan sent prices soaring,” Treasurer Janetzki said.
“This power price drop is a result of our Energy Roadmap, released a year ago, which is focused on putting downward pressure on power prices by improving the energy system we have while we build what we need for the future.
“These savings are on top of the additional $1035 that would have been added to Queenslanders’ power bills under the former Labor Government’s plan.
“Retailers in South East Queensland are on notice to pass on the savings in full – the same way Ergon has for those in regional Queensland.
“The Queensland Competition Authority will be closely monitoring retailers’ pricing patterns and will be reporting back next month.”
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said Sunshine Coast locals deserved to see the same savings as those in regional Queensland have had.
“The Crisafulli Government directed Ergon to pass on the Default Market Offer reductions in full so it’s now up to South East retailers to do the right thing,” Ms Simpson said.
“With so many Sunshine Coast locals and small businesses struggling with increasing bills, reductions in power prices are genuine cost of living relief that can make a real difference.”
Mr Kelly said as an AGL customer his power bill decreases would make a significant difference for his business.
“The hospitality sector was not immune to the impacts of the national affordability crisis and finally seeing a bill go back down is a genuine relief,” Mr Kelly said.
“These savings are particularly important for a business like mine which requires a substantial amount of electricity as we run our ovens, fridges and air-conditioning almost 24/7.
“Every dollar we save is money we can put back into our business, our staff and our customers.”
