July 1, 2013
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington is encouraging local residents to take part in Ergon Energy’s review of electricity tariffs.
Mrs Frecklington said several of the restructured tariffs were expected to start in 2014-15, with further tariff reform to be put in place over the 2015-2020 period.
“The State Government wants as much participation as possible in the review process and I really want to see businesses and interest groups in the Nanango Electorate get involved,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Our 30-Year Electricity Strategy will give us the roadmap we need to effectively plan our future electricity use.
“If we think back 30 years, the way we now use electricity in our homes, businesses, on our farms and in our industries is vastly different. That’s why we need the community’s input into developing new tariff structures.”
Mrs Frecklington said Ergon Energy was looking to alter the structure of tariffs so they delivered benefits to customers through a greater choice of options, while leading to a more efficient electricity network.
“These changes might include stronger time-of-use signals, capacity and critical peak pricing, or a reduced reliance on volume charges,” she said.
“This will give Queensland businesses and households innovative options so they can benefit from reducing electricity usage at peak times.
“Encouraging a shift in electricity use to non-peak times improves the efficiency of the existing poles and wires network and reduces the need to keep spending money on increasing the capacity of that network.
“At the same time, it is critically important there are appropriate options for vulnerable customers.”
Energy and Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle said the review was a key part of the State Government’s commitment to electricity sector reform.
“As a part of this reform, I have established a working group of Ergon Energy, Energex, the Queensland Competition Authority, Treasury and my Department to provide strategic oversight and direction to tariff reform in Queensland,” Mr McArdle said.
Tariff reform will also be a key component of the 30-Year Electricity Strategy, with the Discussion Paper that will inform the Strategy to be released in the coming months.
More details on Ergon Energy’s tariff review are available on the Ergon website. Submissions can be made by August 2.
