[Greens-Media] Electricity retailer sell-off is bad news for households & climate

[John Kaye]

Electricity retailer sell-off is bad news for households & climate
 
Media release: 31 October 2008
 
The Labor party's decision to support the privatisation of retail arms of Energy Australia, Integral Energy and Country Energy will expose consumers to soaring power bills and mounting greenhouse gas emissions, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "The peace deal within the Labor party might buy Premier Rees some cover to slip through the sell-off, but it will leave households without the choice of a provider who will work with them to reduce energy use.
 
"The Labor Party has just given the nod to a Rees government fire sale. 
 
"With the capital markets in chaos and the future of the economy looking bleak this would a particularly bad time to sell the retailers.
 
"It is also a particularly cruel time to throw hundreds of call centre workers out of their jobs.
 
"Hundreds of employees are condemned to losing their positions to low cost South Asian call centres, at a time when unemployment is on the rise. 
 
 "Labor's backroom stitch-up will leave 3.1 million customers at the mercy of private retailers who will treat them as cash cows.
 
"It will make it even harder to reduce the 57 million tonnes of CO2 produced by NSW's electricity industry each year.
 
"This state needs retailers who are prepared to forgo profit opportunities to help households and small businesses reduce their energy consumption.
 
"Private owners will be driven by their shareholders and the banks to maximise their profits, not minimise household bills and greenhouse gas emissions.
 
"The Rees government has not produced a single study that justifies their push to sell off the retailers on their own.
 
"If the Premier wants to win the next election, he will dump this relic of former Treasurer Michael Costa and commit to a publicly-owned power industry that is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and household bills," Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000