Powerful chance to speak
BUSINESSES and farmers in the Far North have one week to speak out about how the scale down of JobKeeper has affected how they can pay their power bills.
The deadline to complete a two minute survey prepared by the Queensland Electricity Users Network has been extended to April 21.
“We are conscious of the time constraints faced by businesses,” QEUN Coordinator Jennifer Brownie said.
The Queensland Competition Authority is setting the electricity prices and tariffs to be charged to Ergon customers from July 1.
“We know businesses and farmers don’t have time to write submissions to the QCA and the Queensland Government but their participation in this survey will give them a voice on Ergon power bills and tariffs,” Ms Brownie said.
“It is critical the Queensland Competition Authority and the Queensland Government understand how businesses and farmers in regional Queensland are coping with power bills now that JobKeeper has ended.”
“The ability to pay power bills is a strong indicator of how well the economic recovery from COVID-19 is progressing in Queensland.”
The survey results will be included in the QEUN’s submission to the Queensland Competition Authority
next week.
Sally Mlikota, President, Cairns Chamber of Commerce, said the survey gave Cairns businesses a voice.
“The Queensland government owns 100 per cent of Ergon,” Ms Mlikota said.
“This survey provides a quick and easy opportunity for businesses in the Cairns region to let the Queensland government know how they are coping with Ergon power bills and Ergon’s current range of electricity tariffs.”
The CEO of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Mark Olsen, said tourist businesses would possibly need assistance with power bills as a residual impact of COVID related closures.
The effects have not been limited to city businesses, and regional farmers are likely to feel the crunch.
“Prior to COVID-19 a QEUN survey of over 200 businesses and farmers in the Mareeba Council area found they were struggling with power bills,” Joe Moro, President, of the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce and FNQ Growers, said.
“Participation in this QEUN survey will provide an insight into how businesses are currently coping with their power bills.”
The QEUN survey is seeking responses from a wide range of businesses and farmers regardless of whether they had staff on JobKeeper or not.
The survey is open to all businesses and farmers in the Cairns region.
To complete the survey, visit the QEUN website www.qeun.com.au. For more details call 0740 312 865