Palmer United Party Supports Solar in Queensland A Palmer United Party government will provide Queenslanders with better access to cleaner and less expensive energy sources such as solar to significantly reduce the state’s electricity prices, says the party’s Queensland leader and candidate for Callide, John Bjelke-Petersen. Mr Bjelke-Petersen said one of the first initiatives of a Palmer United Party government would be to decrease Queensland’s soaring power and electricity prices by encouraging Queensland home owners to install solar panels on their roofs. He said an average household could reduce its power bill by 65 per cent by installing solar. “More than 380,000 Queensland homes are already powered by the sun and the Palmer United Party is committed to ensuring this number reaches one million by the end of the next term of government,” Mr Bjelke-Petersen said. “Electricity costs are already having a negative impact on Queensland families and are hurting businesses, hospitals and schools as well as hindering the state’s economic growth. “All Queenslanders including families, low-income earners, self-funded retirees, pensioners and community groups will be able to slash their power bills by installing solar panels in their homes. “We need to put a stop to unfair fixed fees and charges for solar homes and to significantly decrease the ridiculous $500-a-day fee for large solar users. “We need to maintain our state’s energy supply and to do this we need to set a fair price and an incentive for consumers who use solar.” Mr Bjelke-Petersen said the Newman Government had broken its promise to Queenslanders to reduce the cost of living in this state. “Instead, electricity prices have skyrocketed and families are finding it hard to make ends meet,” he said. “What is even more frightening is the fact that these prices will increase even further if Mr Newman and his LNP government go ahead with their plans to lease state-owned assets. “In order to convince potential investors about the merits of state-owned electricity assets, the Newman government will have to ensure they remain profitable so that can only mean prices will stay high and consumers will suffer. “A Palmer United Party government is determined to ensure Queenslanders pay less for their electricity and will fully investigate why prices have risen so much.”
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 04:24:33 +0000