Dr Kaye said: “Soaring peak energy demand is driving the need for new investment in power distribution.

“Households are being slogged for another $100 a year because the Iemma government failed to manage the demand.

“A year has been wasted on the electricity sell-off when it should have been spent pushing through improved energy efficiency, smart metering and load controls.

“Privatisation has distracted the government’s attention from the important task of demand management.

“Premier Morris Iemma and his Energy Minister Ian Macdonald have been seduced by Treasurer Costa into believing that the sell-off would be a panacea for the state’s energy needs.

“Households throughout NSW will be forced to pay for their folly.

“If the sell-off goes ahead, it will make matters even worse.

“A privately-owned industry would have no interest in managing the demand. Households will would many more rises in power bills as the corporate owners seek to maximise profits by pushing up demand.

“It’s time for the Iemma government to abandon the sell-off and invest in energy efficiency and demand management,” Dr Kaye said.


For more information:    John Kaye 0407 195 455