The Tasmanian Economic Regulator says state’s electricity prices are lower
The state government has highlighted a report showing we have Australia’s “lowest electricity prices”, but Labor says we’re still paying too much.
Tasmania
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The state government has hailed a report showing Tasmania as having the nation’s lowest regulated electricity prices.
Meanwhile, Aurora Energy’s annual report shows more customers are struggling with electricity debt and Labor has pointed to electricity bills going up.
Energy and Renewables Minister Nick Duigan said the annual report of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator showed Tasmania had the lowest prices, with bills for customers with concessions going down.
“This shows our energy plan is working and Tasmanians are paying Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power,” Mr Duigan said.
“We know how much power bills impact on everyday cost-of-living pressures. Because Tasmanians use more power than households on the mainland, its vital we continue to have the lowest power prices in the nation.”
Treasurer Michael Ferguson said Tasmania was the envy of other states when it came to electricity prices.
“We are also ensuring those who are struggling are supported, with our Liberal government providing some of the largest concessions in Australia as a further benefit to living in Tasmania,” Mr Ferguson said.
While Tasmania’s tariffs may be lower, electricity bills have gone up significantly after the Regulator approved price rises.
Electricity bills went up 9.5 per cent from July, after an 11.88 per cent rise last year.
Aurora Energy’s 2022/23 annual report, tabled in state parliament last week, said customer debt was on the rise.
The report said “bad debt expense” was on the rise “due to a combination of cost-of-living pressures impacting customers’ ability to pay and historical debt accumulated during the difficult Covid-19 period.”
Labor energy spokesman Dean Winter said the government was pointing to tariffs when actual household and business bills were increasing.
“These are the highest electricity bills Tasmanians have ever paid and it’s because of the government’s policies,” he said.
Mr Winter rubbished Mr Duigan’s comment that households and businesses were paying “Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power”, given the state government had linked the state with the National Electricity Market.
“That’s not true. We are paying whatever price the national market gives us. We are paying inflated prices because of inflated gas and coal prices on the mainland and across the world. Tasmanians expect to get a dividend from our historic investment in renewable energy here in Tasmania and they expect to get that through our power bills,” he said.
Labor has pledged to cap electricity price rises at 2.5 per cent a year.
Originally published as The Tasmanian Economic Regulator says state’s electricity prices are lower
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