Labor Government commits to establishing a state-wide publicly owned energy retailer, if elected this month.
The move is the first part of Premier Steven Miles Cheaper Energy Plan.
The retailer will provide greater competition, choice and cheaper prices for Queensland households and businesses.
Retailer will support good public sector jobs throughout the state, especially in regional hubs like Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.
Premier Steven Miles has made a major commitment to provide Queenslanders with cheaper energy – establishing a new state-wide publicly owned energy retailer if elected this month.
It’s the first part of Premier’s Cheaper Energy Plan – taking decisive action to ensure Queensland households benefit from greater competition, greater choice and cheaper prices. The people’s retailer will put people before profits. The publicly owned power retailer will operate state-wide and compete with Ergon in regional Queensland.
And, it will offer cheaper household power prices than privately owned retailers in other States.
Wholesale prices in Queensland are lower than the mainland average price in the national electricity market.
A state-wide publicly owned retailer will ensure that the benefits from these lower wholesale prices are passed on to Queensland households and businesses.
Queenslanders in the regions will now have choice when it comes to selecting an energy provider and more options for participating in solar and community battery pricing models. In the South East our publicly owned retailer will go after the business of customers who are paying too much with private retailers and the 140,713 residential customers and 23,106 small business customers currently on a default market offer. By having a state-wide publicly owned retailer we will ensure that the benefits of cheaper power from our investment in renewable energy is passed onto Queensland households, not foreign owned retailers. The 2024 State Budget locked in $26 billion towards renewable energy projects including the acceleration of the SuperGrid, network batteries, local grid solutions, Borumba and Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro projects, and CopperString. For renters, the publicly owned energy retailer will also make it easier to access the benefits of rooftop solar through community batteries. Only Labor will use the super profits from multinational mining companies to provide cost of living relief for Queensland households now and into the future. This financial year, every Queensland household has received $1,000 off their energy bill paid in one lump sum – securing it from the LNPs cuts agenda. For vulnerable households, this lifts to $1,372 in total energy bill rebates. Labor’s energy bill rebates are just one of more than $11 billion in cost-of-living relief measures being delivered by this government. $11 billion in cost-of-living relief that is at risk from being cut by an LNP government. Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:
“It’s simple – people before profits. That’s my guarantee to Queenslanders. “I will establish a publicly owned energy retailer for our state to deliver the cheaper power prices Queenslanders deserve. “It also means that our mammoth investment in renewable energy generation will directly benefit households, rather than lining the pockets of foreign investors. “We have so much opportunity as the sun and wind capital of the of the nation, and it’s time that the power we generate is for Queenslanders and owned by Queenslanders. “Making energy bills cheaper is important to me and important to Queenslanders, and I’m doing what matters.” Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier Cameron Dick:
“The Miles Labor Government has a vision for Queensland that puts the people of Queensland first. “Currently, Queensland’s wholesale electricity prices are lower than the mainland average in the national electricity market, and our state-wide publicly owned retailer will ensure Queenslanders benefit from our lower wholesale prices. “We are also committed to delivering the Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project, which will unlock the true potential of the state’s renewable energy sector and safeguard our manufacturing industry for decades to come. “David Crisafulli’s energy plan is shrouded in secrecy, he voted to privatise our electricity assets and he has declared to replace the Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro project with small hydro plants. “But David Crisafulli refuses to reveal how many or where his small pumped hydro plants will be built.” ENDS