Solar the smart solution for energy price hike of up to 29 per cent on the way for regional QLD
9 June 2023: Solar the smart solution for energy price hike of up to 29 per cent on the way for regional QLD
Households budgets in regional Queensland will be further stretched with the announcement today of an electricity bill rise of up to 29 per cent from July 1, with Solar Citizens calling for urgent government investment in solar as the smart solution.
Under the Ergon determination released today, homes and small businesses in regional Queensland who rely on the provider could have hundreds of dollars added to their power bills from July 1.
Heidi Lee Douglas, National Director of Solar Citizens said, “Too many households and small businesses in regional Queensland will be pushed to the brink by the significant power bill increase announced today and investment in solar is a smart way of bringing energy prices down.
“Regional Queensland householders with solar are already saving hundreds or thousands of dollars per home on their power bills, depending on the size of their solar array.
“Queensland is literally the Sunshine state - so the State Government needs to make sure no one in the regions is locked out of the benefits of harnessing cheap, clean solar energy.
“Every regional Queenslander deserves access to cheap, clean energy from solar.
“Queensland has some of the best uptake of solar in the country in but people in rented properties and people in social housing are currently locked out of the benefits from solar power.
“Solar Citizens and Power Together are calling on the Queensland Government to commit in next Tuesday’s State Budget to install rooftop solar on social housing and rolling out Virtual Power Plants for 10,000 social homes. We’re also asking for government investment to help instal rooftop solar on 10,000 rented homes across the state, including in the regions.
“Rooftop solar provides households with ongoing power savings and reduces the cost of living while energy prices surge.
“It’s a good investment for governments to provide the support and subsidies needed to make savings from rooftop solar available to as many households and small businesses as possible.
“All Queensland households should be running on cheap, clean solar power instead of burning expensive, polluting fossil fuels,” she said.
Heidi Lee Douglas is available for interview.
Media contact: Jane Garcia (Essential) 0455 111 593
