Power price hike is just the beginning of NSW household pain

Dr Kaye said: "NSW Energy Minister Ian Macdonald was crying crocodile tears when he objected to the state's electricity retailers' price increases.
 
"The Rees government's plans to privatise the retailers will leave consumers increasingly vulnerable to price rises.
 
"Private owners will treat households as cash cows. Bills will soar as corporate retailers do nothing to help their customers reduce demand in the face of rising prices.
 
"The future should be about energy efficiency and demand management to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also to minimise the impacts of future prices rise.
 
"To make matters worse, the Rees government approved plans by the state's distribution utilities to spend $16.4 billion on wires and poles.
 
"Instead of investing in a smart grid that would reduce power bills and encourage renewable energy, the Rees government committed households to re-building an expensive and out-dated electricity distribution system.
 
"If Minister Macdonald was really concerned about households, he would abandon privatisation and the $16.4 billion cost of an old-fashioned network.
 
"Instead he would use the publicly owned retailers to boost energy efficiency and cut demand.
 
"He would instruct the distributors to build a smart grid that is cheaper and more effective in encouraging local renewable sources.
 
"NSW households are ill served by a government that is intent on making them pay for the costly mistakes of increasing reliance on coal-fired electricity," Dr Kaye said.
 
 For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455