Hydro Tasmania’s monopoly power was still the biggest barrier to cheaper electricity

The Tasmanian Greens today said Hydro Tasmania’s monopoly power was still the biggest barrier to cheaper electricity in Tasmania, and to the entry of new energy retailers.

Greens Energy spokesperson Kim Booth MP said today’s commentary by Marc White from Goanna Energy Consulting echoed the Greens’ long-standing concerns about the need for genuine wholesale energy market competition.

“We are calling on the Liberal and Labor Parties to reconsider their rejection of the Greens’ trading room proposal for Hydro Tasmania,” Mr Booth said

“The Greens’ offer to sit down with the other two parties and discuss our proposal to introduce wholesale competition still stands.”

“We warned that Aurora would be unlikely to be sold without competition in the wholesale sector, which our trading room proposal would deliver.”

“We are beginning to wonder whether either Liberal or Labor bothered to read the Expert Energy Panel advice, which made it clear that retailers wanted wholesale competition.”

“The Greens want to see the lowest long term energy prices for Tasmanian mums and dads, and it is disappointing that neither Liberal nor Labor seem to understand how to deliver that.”

The Greens trading room proposal is here: http://mps.tas.greens.org.au/2012/08/greens-unveil-21st-century-energy-vision/
Kim Booth MP Greens Energy Spokesperson