Skyrocketing power price to take its toll

TOOWOOMBA relief agencies are preparing for even more demand on their thinly stretched resources as news of electricity price rises of up to 21 per cent come to light.

Picture: Craig Warhurst

TOOWOOMBA relief agencies are preparing for even more demand on their thinly stretched resources as news of electricity price rises of up to 21 per cent come to light.

The Queensland Competition Authority's draft pricing for 2013-14 yesterday recommended price increases of 10% to 21.4%, depending on tariff, time of use and region.

Lifeline Darling Downs general manager Derek Tuffield said it was a scary prospect for clients who were already desperately fighting to stay above the bread line.

"We will feel the direct impact as people turn to Lifeline and other emergency relief agencies," he said.

"At the moment we have people seeking such a diverse range of assistance - people who can't afford to put fuel in their cars, buy food or even afford to pay for bus fares.

"The cost of electricity is definitely up there on the list."

Mr Tuffield said the usual February "easing up" period on Lifeline's resources had skipped 2013.

"We have not seen a decline in demand for months and months," he said.

"If anything, we've had an increase in people seeking assistance.

"It's all related to the cost of living.

"Demand usually eases up around February, but it is actually getting worse.

"That's what's scary."

Businesses will also feel the pinch if the recommended price rises go ahead.

The cost of electricity for Queensland businesses has increased by nearly 100% over the past seven years.

HOW WILL RISING ELECTRICITY PRICES AFFECT YOU?

TOOWOOMBA CITY BOWLS CLUB

Toowoomba City Bowls Club members (from left) Maree Frappell, Pat Backman, Bonney Jones and Carol Smitheringale talking about rising cost of living and looming electricity price hike, Friday, February 22, 2013. Photo Kevin Farmer / The Chronicle. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Pat Backman: 
I'M A self-funded retiree so I have to watch all of my expenses.
We're all in the same boat.
Our dividends don't go up, but our expenses always do.
This just makes it even harder.

Maree Frappell:
WE HAVE a horse stud out in Greenmount and grow all our own feed, so the cost of powering the irrigation pumps is already ridiculous.
It is more economical to grow your own in the long run, but the gap is getting closer every day.
My husband is very careful to run the pumps during the off-peak tariff times.
We always used to have big floodlights switched on all night during the breeding season for foaling.
Now my husband just uses a torch.

Bonney Jones:
NO ONE is looking after the old people.
I've started using solar electricity, which has given me quite a significant saving.
Unfortunately, I'm about to move into a retirement village without solar power.
All these new costs add up for pensioners.
We originally bought our block of land for $1600.
Now we pay more than that in rates, even with a pensioner discount.

Carol Smitheringale:
'M ON a carer's pension because I look after my sister who has autism.
It gets harder every year.
It seems every time I get a little nest egg together, something new comes along to take a bite out of it.
There is just no room for anything to go wrong.

Originally published as Skyrocketing power price to take its toll