Media Release

9 September 2018

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As electricity bosses gather in Canberra today, NSW Labor is renewing its call for a re-regulation of the energy market – to push power prices down for families.

At the 2015 election the Liberals and Nationals promised the people of NSW that power prices would not rise following privatisation.

Instead, they fought the Australian Energy Regulator in court so prices would go up.
NSW families are now facing steep power price rises of up to 20 per cent.

Households are expecting an average increase of $300 a year and small businesses in NSW will be hit with an average increase of $900 to their power bills.

The Coalition Governments, both State and Federal, have failed to bring down energy prices.

Federally, the Turnbull Government has put the onus on consumers to get the best deal possible by switching providers.

It is calling on retailers to be trusted to simply give more information about energy deals – which will not go far enough.

NSW Labor last month made the commitment to re-regulate electricity in a Labor Government.

Quotes attributable to NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley:
“Families and small businesses are facing record power bills – because the Liberal-National Government did everything it could to drive the price up ahead of privatisation.

“Electricity companies need to be re-regulated to ensure that consumers are treated fairly.”

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy Adam Searle:
“When markets fail to deliver fair outcomes, people expect government to step in.

“A Labor Government will ensure NSW families and businesses are properly protected.”