A 15% rise in pole and wire charges expected to be added to Tasmanian power bills in the coming months will hurt already struggling small businesses, the opposition leader says.
Labor leader Dean Winter has calculated the average Tasmanian household will face an annual increase of $113 and small businesses up to $299.
He says the price hike is “just another blow” to those doing it tough as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.
“The rises will eat up almost half of the Rockliff government’s $250 Renewable Energy Dividend bill relief for average households and almost all of the $300 credit for a typical businesses,” he said.
Winter said the extra 15% charge will leave “many back at square one in their power price struggles” and effectively undo the relief that the government has promised.
But Liberal MP Felix Ellis said the opposition’s sums “don’t add up”.
“To be honest it sounds like Labor can’t count if they think that’s the case,” he said.
“What we’re delivering is a $250 supercharged renewable energy dividend for all Tasmanian households and also for Tasmanian small businesses.”
“Our goal is to make sure that Tasmania remains with the lowest power prices in the country and sadly we’re seeing from Labor a new leader but the same whinger.”
Around 254,000 households and 35,000 small businesses will benefit from the Renewable Energy Dividend scheme, with $250 on offer for households and $300 for small businesses.
