North Queensland businesses brace for impact as power bills soar

A North Queensland business owner has been bending over backwards to keep up with soaring electricity prices after their bill recently quadrupled. See the eye-watering amount here.

C Bar owner Allan Pike is struggling to keep up with the unsustainable electricity cost rises being experienced by Townsville residents and businesses. Picture: Shae Beplate.

A North Queensland business owner has been bending over backwards to keep up with soaring electricity prices after their bill recently quadrupled.

A new quarterly report from Australia’s energy market regulator shows Queenslanders are copping it the worst as electricity prices continue to spiral.

The state’s wholesale spot price on the National Electricity Market increased to $118/MWh over the first three months of 2024 — compared with the national average of $76/MWh.

C Bar owner Allan Pike said he was struggling after his business’s energy bill jumped by about 400 per cent in the last year, which saw him fork out about $7000 a month.

He fears these increases may have to be passed on to his customers at some point.

“We didn’t do that before, we’re able to sort of hold that for ourselves, but it’s getting harder and harder,” Mr Pike said.

“But there’s only so much businesses can do — when food prices are up nearly 22 per cent, wages are up 11 per cent, insurance is up 18-20 per cent, and power is up 400 per cent — you have to cover it somewhere down the line.

“I think smaller businesses who don’t have the revenue are really going to struggle and start doing it tough.”

C Bar Lachlan Pike and Allan Pike are struggling to keep up with the unsustainable electricity cost rises being experienced by Townsville residents and businesses. Picture: Shae Beplate.

KAP leader Robbie Katter said people across North Queensland had been falling off their chairs after getting their latest energy bill this week.

“I spoke to a small corner store who said their bill had gone up $800 a month — that roughly a 200 per cent increase,” he said.

“That’s something that people and businesses who are already stressed can ill afford.”

Robbie Katter, Katter's Australia Party (KAP) National Leader and State Member for Traeger. Picture: Shae Beplate.

KAP Thuringowa candidate Clynton Hawks said his own personal bill had gone up 150 per cent despite his electricity usage staying the same.

“It’s a disgrace,” he said.

“There are countless other homeowners in North Queensland that are struggling, and are they going to be able to keep their lights on? Probably not.”

Mr Katter accused the Miles Government and Opposition of prioritising reducing emissions over ensuring power prices were fairer and more affordable for Queenslanders.

It comes after both major parties committed to a 75 per cent reduction in emissions in parliament last week.

“Their major $60 billion pledge to the people of Queensland is that we’re going to try and reduce emissions. Well, that’s fine, but explain that to people now why there’s an impact on the energy bills,” he said.

“You cannot make those emission reductions. without applying a cost.”

Originally published as North Queensland businesses brace for impact as power bills soar