Regional businesses plug into power cost-cutter

Ten large electricity customers from Cairns to Toowoomba have the chance to cut their power bills by up to 40 per cent under a $16 million Palaszczuk Government energy initiative.

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the first 10 organisations had been selected to get free independent energy audits, including comprehensive advice on energy management strategies and advice on the standard electricity tariff that best suits them.

“These regional organisations employ up to 5000 people and we want to help them reduce their electricity costs so they can continue to provide jobs and a significant contribution to the Queensland economy,” Dr Lynham said.

“This initiative is expected to deliver savings of 10 to 40 per cent for large industrial customers.

“The government will fund up to 50 per cent towards the costs of implementing the audit recommendations.”

The 10 organisations are:

• Cairns Regional Council
• MSF Sugar’s Tableland Mill and Howe Farms in Mareeba
• Cassowary Coast Regional Council
• YWAM in Townsville
• Dobinsons Spring and Suspension in Rockhampton
• Isis Central Sugar Mill at Childers
• Walkers Engineering and Queensland Sugar Limited at Bundaberg
• Toowoomba Regional Council.

Dr Lynham said applications would open by March next year for another 30 large energy customers to join the scheme.

“Large energy customers across regional Queensland can register their interest now for the next phase, funded under the Palaszczuk Government’s $2 billion Affordable Energy Plan,” he said.

“We are serious about finding and funding ways to help large customers reduce energy usage and increase productivity.

“This initiative also provides support to large customers in regional Queensland who are on obsolete electricity tariffs that the Queensland Competition Authority is transitioning to standard business tariffs by 1 July 2020.

“It’s only because we retained our electricity assets that we’ve been able to reinvest the dividends to support Queensland consumers, with initiatives like this.”

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Media contact:  Jan Martin  0439 341 314