Jacana Energy spends $800k a year to print bills in Brisbane and send them to Territory
A government-owned electricity company has been pinged spending nearly $70k to print electricity bills interstate and have them posted to the NT.
Northern Territory
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THE Territory’s biggest electricity retailer is slugging its customers nearly $70,000 a month to print energy invoices on the East Coast.
Jacana Energy has told the NT News it is reviewing the decision to print bills in Brisbane and get them mailed to customers the Territory.
It follows the government-owned electricity company admitting to Estimates that it was paying $68,000 a month – or $816,000 a year – because it couldn’t find a company to print the invoices within the Northern Territory.
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In response to a question on notice, Jacana Energy replied that: “Invoice production, printing and postage is approximately $68,000 per month.”
“Currently there are no suppliers in the NT who have the capability to provide the full suite of production and printing services required.”
But a spokeswoman for Jacana Energy has now said it is looking into whether some printing services can be conducted in the Territory after all.
“We are working on a program of work to assess what components of our bill printing and mailing arrangements can be based locally and what capability is available in the Northern Territory,” the spokeswoman said.
“Opportunities for local providers may arise as a result.”
The spokeswoman suggested Jacana couldn’t find a suitable printing company in the Northern Territory to print its invoices.
“Mailing house services are specialised and include fulfilment of large scale printing, dispatch, data management and reporting requirements,” she said.
“Jacana Energy uses the services of a mailing house located in Brisbane to print and distribute our customers’ bills.”
Essential Services Minister Eva Lawler said she had requested the government-owned energy retailer review the decision.
“The Territory Government is working hard to boost opportunities for Territory businesses because we want to support local jobs and to further grow our economy.,” Ms Lawler said.
“I have asked Jacana Energy to review opportunities for these services to be provided locally. This work is underway.”
Opposition Essential Services Minister Joshua Burgoyne however said the major price tag showed ditching paper bills should be made a focus.
“The Gunner Government has the potential to save more than $800,000 a year by moving to a paperless system and this should be considered as a priority,” Mr Burgoyne said.
“Jacana claims there are no local businesses who have the capability to print the number of bills required – surely this is added incentive to drastically reduce the number of paper bills so Labor can ensure it is investing in local companies.”
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