Help for households to meet their electricity bills

Townsville: The State Government has taken a number of steps to ensure that householders, no matter where they live, have access to affordable electricity, Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said today.

“The Bligh Government doesn’t turn its back on the battlers,” Mr Wilson said.

“That’s why we gave Ergon Energy more than $600 million in subsidies last year – to subsidise the cost of electricity for households and businesses in regional Queensland. That’s on average, around $1,000 per customer.

“Their electricity bills would have been a lot higher without the subsidy,” he said.

Minister Wilson said the State Government had taken a number of other steps to help ease the financial pressure on households, particularly pensioners and low income earners.

“We strongly objected to the Queensland Competition Authority’s proposed 7% increase in the electricity price cap. They did their sums again and came back with a 5.38% increase,” he said.

“While it’s still going to hurt households on a tight budget, it could have been a lot worse.

“We also announced a Consumer Action Plan to help pensioners and low income households. As part of the plan, we increased our pensioner rebate from $145 a year to $165 a year.

“We’re spending $450,000 over 3 years to fund a consumer advocate service for the Queensland Council of Social Services so that they can conduct energy consumer research and take the views of pensioners and people in financial hardship directly to the body that sets the price cap – the Queensland Competition Authority.

“This is about giving them a say in their future. We’ve also launched Energywise kits for pensioners, seniors and low income earners. These kits have handy hints and tips to help households save energy and save money.

“And today, Ergon Energy is giving its customers on Centrelink income support a helping hand to pay their bills. They will be able to pay their household bills in small amounts from their fortnightly Centrelink payments, making it easier for them to budget.

“This free and voluntary service means that instead of facing one bill every month or quarter, the bills are paid off in manageable amounts from Centrelink payments each fortnight,” he said.

“The bottom line is that we’re on the side of the consumer and we will continue to look after the interests of everyday Queenslanders, especially people who are doing it tough,” he said.

Media Inquiries: Minister’s Office 3225 1819