Member for Davidson Jonathan O’Dea has called on the NSW Labor Government to reject the just released IPART draft determination that recommends an unprecedented spike in electricity prices.
“Local families already doing it tough will be slugged with up to an extra $221.40 a year and small businesses hit with higher charges if Nathan Rees does not reject these outrageous price hikes”, Mr O’Dea said.
“The price hikes recommended by IPART this week in its draft determination on regulated retail electricity prices are completely unjustifiable in the current economic climate.
“Worse still, this price hike proposal comes on just released IPART data showing as many as 50 households a day are having their electricity disconnected because they cannot afford their bill. The latest figures reveal electricity was cut off from 18,162 households in NSW in 2007-08.
“Given these appalling figures it is simply not good enough for the Premier to hide behind a so-called 'review' when he has the power to outright reject the proposed price rises.”
“IPART itself even admits these increases would ‘significantly impact on households, especially low income households.
“The increases of as much as 21.5 per cent represent a very sharp rise and as we head into an economic downturn this extra cost will hit small local business as well as families having to deal with job losses.
“Energy Australia and Integral Energy consumers stand to suffer with a price rise of $179.40 per year.”
