The ‘Power of Choice’ report recommends ‘providing a greater range of pricing options to residential and small business consumers including the use of electricity tariffs that vary at different times of day and possibly in different locations’.
Chairman of the Commission, Mr John Pierce, when calling for comment on the draft report mentioned the inclusion in the report of recommendations for commercial investment in metering technology and demand-side participation.
However, Electricity Wizard’s CEO, Alan Belkin says the report, does not address several key contributors to rising electricity charges.
“Ownership of the electricity infrastructure in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales should be deregulated”
“Involving the private sector in the delivery of infrastructure will lead to greater accountability, and drive down costs” he explained.
Mr Belkin also suggests that a light be shone on ‘green schemes’ - programs that he says have cost taxpayers dearly in the form of price rises.
“It seems that the more governments are involved in the electricity sector, the more ‘green’ programs are introduced, and the more average households have to pay” he said. “As with other programs that governments consider, the cost to consumers of these ‘green’ schemes need to be transparent, scrutinized and be subject to public discussion before they are introduced.”
While urging consumers to be proactive in managing their electricity consumption and comparing the prices from electricity retailers, Mr Belkin now also encourages them to read and comment upon the draft report (by October 16).
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