Qld State-owned Generators Behind High Electricity Prices
Story by ABC News.
Read ABC News’ full story here
THE QUEENSLAND Government is behind massive rises in electricity pricing amid allegations state-owned generators have been “gaming the system”.
Federal Government analysis of the states’ energy markets found wholesale prices were 30 per cent higher in Queensland than in other states and territories.
The Queensland Government said its consumers were still paying less than other jurisdictions where electricity is run by private operators.
But Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said Queensland’s state-owned operators were to blame for the discrepancy.
“In Queensland, your state-owned generators — and this is a very strong allegation based on the evidence — have been gaming the system,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“What they’ve been doing is holding back their supply and then late into the period into which electricity prices are set, bidding in artificially high prices.
“Why in Queensland, when you’ve got state-owned utilities and generators, why are you paying so much for electricity?”
Mr Frydenberg asked the Queensland Government to look at the bidding system and direct the state-owned generators.
“These government-owned generators have been doing well at expense of Queensland consumers,” he said.