Call for power competition

FAR Northern householders and business owners have been paying too much for electricity for decades.

It comes down to one reason: there is just one provider, Ergon Energy.

There’s no competition so the government-owned corporation has no reason to try to lower costs within the organisation so power prices can come down.

Last year its revenue was over $2 billion and its profit was $120 million.

In the south-east the energy market has been deregulated and there is competition for customers.

The Queensland Government subsidises regional households and businesses to the tune of nearly $500 million a year as a community service obligation to maintain price parity between the regions and south-east Queensland.

But this can’t continue and the reality is competition will force prices to come down.

South-east Queenslanders have access to about 17 electricity retailers.

Even the State Government has entered the fray with Alinta Energy, headquartered in Perth, in partnership with Queensland Government-owned CS Energy.

A 25 per cent, two-year discount is offered to new customers, saving an average household an estimated $350 on their bill across the 24 months.

So why not here Premier Palaszczuk?

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) has told the Queensland Competition Authority that a deregulated market that mirrors south-east Queensland should be introduced in Cairns and Townsville.

We wholeheartedly agree. Nick Dalton Deputy editor