Tasmanian power bills look set to rise by at least another $235 over the next five years, but Jeremy Rockliff and the Liberals don’t seem to know much about it as they keep talking about themselves.
A draft Australian Energy Regulator decision (attached) models that a planned increase in transmission and distribution charges will see the average Tasmanian residential power bill rise by $235 by 2028/29, or an average increase of at least $47 per year. This is on top of the almost $500 that has already been added to the average power bill since June last year.
These prices rises are despite hundreds of job redundancies at TasNetworks – which they said would stop more price rises.
Embarrassingly, the AER also rejected all TasNetworks contingent projects; pointing out the triggers for project construction did not meet the National Energy Rules. TasNetworks did not list its north west transmission project as a contingent project and still has not outlined what the updated cost of this project will be, nor what it will cost consumers.
Tasmanians are already struggling with skyrocketing power bills, and with the cost-of-living crisis showing no signs of easing, any further increase has the potential to push budgets over the edge.
The clear and obvious solution to this problem is to cap power prices. It is so obvious the policy is still on the Liberal Party’s website.
Labor calls on new Energy Minister Nick Duigan to implement his party’s policy – the same one they promised Tasmanians at the last election.
A Labor Government would cap power prices for Tasmanian households and small businesses so that Tasmanians pay a Tasmanian price for Tasmanian power.
While the Liberals are in chaos and only talking about themselves, Labor is focused on the issues that matter to Tasmanians.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables
