Businesses across the state are now in the process of re-contracting their power deals with providers, with many now experiencing a 50 per cent increase compared to their previous contracts.
Tasmania is Australia's renewable energy heartland. Despite Guy Barnett and Jeremy Rockliff's claims that Tasmanians will not see such large increases in power bills, these contracted customers are paying or facing major increases in their energy costs of 50 per cent or more.
This is entirely due to the fact the Liberals abandoned their "Tasmania First" energy policy and exposed our state to the chaos in the national market.
It is well past time for the Government to implement an energy rebate scheme for large, contracted customers. We are the only state in the position to do so, with publicly owned generation assets able to protect customers from the impacts of inflated wholesale markets costs.
The Liberals claim to be a party that supports businesses, but they are leaving enterprises out to dry with their inaction. The Government should step in and protect Tasmanian businesses from the massive cost increases being experienced.
Under the scheme rebates per megawatt hour would be made available to eligible business customers. The rebates should also apply retrospectively to businesses who have already had to re-contract so far this year during this period of price volatility.
Tasmanian Labor has tabled and debated legislation that would have capped power prices for Tasmanian households and saved them around $227 this year. This was based on the same price cap Legislation the Government put in place in 2018.
Every day the government refuses to act, is another day of uncertainty and higher prices that Tasmanians can't afford.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy
