Growing east coast energy retailer Alinta Energy says other players could offer a cheaper option than extending AGL Energy's Liddell coal power plant if only the government could get its basic rules on carbon policy sorted.

Alinta chief executive Jeff Dimery and other energy bosses took issue with the government's blinkered focus on the fate of Liddell, arguing the pursuit of short-term political gain is putting the country's whole energy future at risk.