SKY-HIGH COSTS A DRAIN ON BUSINESS

AS the two major parties bicker about who will reform the energy sector, rising power costs continue to hurt Gold Coast businesses.

Feed the Earthlings store owner Teaki Page (pictured) said it cost her more than $100 a week for electricity at her Broadbeach shop.

“It was already expensive when we started because we’re a fairly new business, but everything keeps going up,” the takeaway owner said.

Ms Page said her Gold Coast and Brisbane shops used grills, fryers, a pizza oven, fridges, coolrooms and freezers – and running costs were her biggest concern when purchasing new equipment.

“We have to sit down and go through electricity versus gas,” she said.

“You can get a piece of equipment for $200 based on electricity but it costs more to run. A gas one is $1200 (to buy).

“We have been sucked in with that before, buying equipment and finding out that it chews the power.”

Energy Minister Mark Bailey said the Labor Government had stabilised household electricity prices “to an average of just 1.9 per cent per year”.

Mr Bailey said rebates were also available when households bought energy-efficient fridges, washing machines or airconditioners.

Opposition energy spokesman Michael Hart said the LNP planned to put a lot of downward pressure on electricity prices.

“We will freeze bonuses of our power companies until electricity prices start to fall,” he said.