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Privatisation of electricity a disaster for remote communities: Ingram

The Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has strongly objected on behalf of remote communities to the new electricity pricing direction presented to the Essential Services Commission (ESC).

By Craig Ingram - 3rd March 2005 - Back to News

In his submission to the ESC, Mr Ingram said it is clear from reading the submissions from the electricity companies and the ESC’s pricing review document that the future is indeed extremely grim for those communities living in remote parts of the state.

"The ESC has a duty to protect remote communities from the continual increase of the costs of the distribution and transmission costs and I note that the companies are asking for adjustments of the re-balancing tariff of CPI+20% for both distribution and transmission costs," Mr Ingram said.

"The principle of electricity supply at a reasonable price to all of Victoria’s population - no matter where you live - is under serious threat with this direction."

Mr Ingram says the ESC should do all in its power to resist the re balancing of prices and imposing the full cost of distribution and transmission on rural electricity connections.

"I believe it is incumbent on the ESC to report to Parliament on the current differences in tariffs and the expected increases over the next five years, comparing the average low volume residential connection from metropolitan Melbourne to the prices charged at places like Omeo and Mallacoota to ensure that the impact of the removal of the maximum uniform tariff on those rural communities is clearly explained to all Victorians.

"I have also strongly urged the ESC to reject the continual reductions in expenditure and standards in line maintenance, service and underline clearing which is a major cause of faults and deterioration of service to remote electricity connections.

"I encourage Gippslanders to put their views to the ESC when they visit Gippsland next month," Mr Ingram concluded.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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