Queensland Election 2017: Nicholls pledges to power people up by cutting cost of electricity

TIM Nicholls is promising to slash power bills by an average of $160 a year for the next two years – more than tripling Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s pledge – but she says voters should take it with a grain of salt.

Mr Nicholls said Queenslanders would save an average of $160 a year for two years under the plan before those savings increased by an average of between $300 a year to $460 a year in 2020. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

PREMIER Annastacia Pakaszczuk said voters should not trust Tim Nicholls on his power policy after he promised to slash power bills by an average of $160 a year for the next two years – more than tripling Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s pledge – in a bid to win votes..

“It was Tim Nicholls when he was Treasurer of Queensland that drove household electricity prices up 43 per cent,” she said.

“He promises when he was going for office that he would reduce household bills. Not only did he increase household bills by 43 per cent, he had a plan to sell power assets in this state.

“I don’t believe that Queensland families can trust Tim Nicholls to tell the truth when it comes to dealing with power and energy in this state.”

The LNP Leader today unveiled his power bill plan as the crucial second week of campaigning begins ahead of the November 25 State Election.

He promised “major economic and structural reforms” with the State’s coal-fired power generators to rejigged along with renewables subsidies in a bid to deliver the savings.

The pledge is the latest salvo in the fight between the two major parties to win over voters via their power bills.

LNP Leader Tim Nicholls, pictured with Gold Coast candidates, says his electricity reforms will boost jobs by helping business. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

“We are overhauling electricity generators, the poles and wires and subsidies for renewables,” Mr Nicholls said.

“The reforms will deliver cheaper electricity for businesses and industry, meaning more jobs for Queenslanders.

“It will mean reduced returns from the Government owned-energy businesses, but we can’t afford not to act on the Palaszczuk Government’s record high electricity prices.”

Mr Nicholls said Queenslanders would save an average of $160 a year for two years under the plan before those savings increased by an average of between $300 a year to $460 a year in 2020.

“That will happen as we abolish subsidies for renewables and support the National Energy Guarantee,” he said.

Mr Nicholls said Queenslanders would save an average of $160 a year for two years under the plan before those savings increased by an average of between $300 a year to $460 a year in 2020. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

Mr Nicholls said emissions would also decrease with the LNP to support solar as well as a new high-efficiency, low emissions coal fired power station for the state’s north.

The LNP has already promised to freeze the bonuses of electricity company executives unless prices come down and allow consumers to sit on the boards of the state’s power companies. It will also scrap Labor’s 50 per cent renewables target by 2020.

“Unlike Annastacia Palaszczuk’s measly 96 cent a week power rebate handout, this is the serious long-term reform Queenslanders are looking for to deliver cheaper power bills,” he said.

Labor announced its power plan the week before Ms Palaszczuk visited the acting governor to call the November 25 poll.

It has pledged to use the profit the state makes from its power companies – the dividends – to make bills cheaper including handing back $50 a year for two years to Queenslanders via their power bills and covering the cost of the solar feed-in bonus.