Newman to reduce power prices? We’ve all heard that before

Media Release

Shadow Treasurer and Energy Spokesman Curtis Pitt said the Newman Government had no credibility when it came to electricity prices after promising cheaper power bills at the last election and breaking that promise.
“No-one will forget Campbell Newman’s pledge during the 2012 election campaign to lower electricity prices by $120 per year, and then driving average prices up by $460 over two years,” Mr Pitt said.
“The LNP was never serious about lowering power prices. It was nothing more than a political stunt that Campbell Newman had no intention of honouring."

“Today’s announcement from the Minister is nothing new. It’s a re-announcement of a Labor policy from 2011, when an independent report recommended that gold-plating of the network was no longer required due to significant investment already undertaken by the former Government."
“It comes on the back of the Minister’s other ‘cost-saving’ measure to abolish to 8c Solar Feed-in Tariff – something the Minister himself as admitted would deliver savings of less than $1 a month to the average household."

“Savings of $1 a month or $40 in five years do nothing to help family’s battling to pay their power bills. They elected Campbell Newman because he told them electricity would be cheaper with him as Premier, but nothing could be further from the truth.”
Mr Pitt said he welcomed the Minister’s admission, finally, that the carbon price and solar programs were not the chief driver of power prices rises in Queensland.
“In the Courier Mail today, Mr McArdle said:
“Fifty-four per cent of your power bill that you get every quarter or every month is comprised of network charges.”
“Finally the LNP has admitted that the biggest contributor to electricity price rises is the network charges they oversee as the Government."
“It reveals that their campaign against the carbon price was a sham designed to cover up the fact their Government was increasing electricity prices by record amounts.”

“As the independent Queensland Competition Authority figures show if only the carbon tax and environmental policies were a factor prices rises this year would be just 3% on average not a record 22.6%.”