State Labor aids Ergon in push to charge more for electricity

SEPTEMBER 7, 2015: WHILE consumers are desperate to see the costs of electricity fall, the Palaszczuk Labor Government is aiding and abetting Ergon Energy in its push to keep charging more.  The Federal Government, through the Australian Energy Regulator, has set guidelines to restrict power price rises.We’ve basically said to these electricity companies, ‘you’re reaping too much of a return, and you’re going to have to cut your costs’.Ergon Energy, which is owned by the State Government, is not happy about it and they’re taking us to court over this.The Palaszczuk Government like to ‘talk the talk’ on keeping electricity prices down, but if they wanted to ‘walk the walk’, they would stop Ergon from hiring high-priced lawyers for a court challenge to allow them to charge consumers more.The Liberal National Government abolished the Carbon Tax and this did result in a reduction in electricity prices.We made headway on this issue, but State-owned Ergon has continued to put pressure on prices.People in the north have no choice when it comes to choosing an electricity provider; we’re stuck with Ergon.We’ve been squeezed too much, and that’s why the Federal Government has drawn a line in the sand on this.The Palaszczuk Government needs to get on board with these regulations, rather than allow energy providers to mount court challenges.