Bills take shocking toll
LNP calls for more competition in energy sector to ease burden
FOR Holloways Beach pensioner Lynley Brighting simply turning on airconditioning during the scorching summer or paying for all her medications are unattainable luxuries.
Living alone in a unit, Ms Brighting pays up to $400 a quarter for electricity.
She said rising power bills were putting an enormous amount of pressure on her already limited budget.
“(It makes me feel) very small,” she said. “It’s extremely hard and very depressing.
“I’ve gone from a six-person household with my family and two grandsons living with me to a one-person household.
“But my power bill is the same – if not higher – since they’ve moved out.
“I pay $30 a fortnight and there’s usually some top up I’ve got to pay.”
Ms Brighting said she followsed simple practices such as turning off all lights, limiting the use of her oven and having quick showers so she was not using hot water, but nothing has helped drive down prices.
She said she had contacted Ergon and requested being put on a lower tariff, but was unsuccessful.
“I do not have airconditioning because I cannot afford it, so the summers are really hard and I virtually live in my bedroom under a fan,” she said.
“Also washing only once a week, I’ve had to buy a new washing machine so it’s more economic so I’m paying that off as well.
“I try to take supplements that will help because I’ve got some health problems and some weeks I won’t get certain prescriptions made up and I do without for a week, which I shouldn’t do.”
Visiting Ms Brighting yesterday, Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington said she planned to bring down Cairns power bills by about $300 a year.
This would be achieved by introducing competition to regional Queensland’s electricity market.
Ergon Energy is currently the only power provider in the Far North.
Ms Frecklington said the LNP had committed to $700 million to subsidise other providers that would come into the market.
“Households in Cairns deserve access to cheaper electricity but the government owned Ergon Energy controls the market,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Southeast Queenslanders are spoiled for choice when it comes to their energy retailers while Cairns households are chained to Ergon.
“Bringing competition into the energy market drives down prices and it will also improve customer service.”