On the 31st May the QCA released its final determination on regulated retail electricity prices for financial year 2017-2018 for regional Queensland. Concerned that the price increases were too high, the Palaszczuk Government has intervened, directing the government-owned corporation Energy Queensland to reduce network charges. In order to do so, Energy Queensland has been directed to remove the costs associated with the Solar Bonus Scheme. Energy Minister Mark Bailey made it clear in a statement that this change will not impact payments under the state’s solar bonus scheme, as the cost of the scheme will be met by the government instead of consumers over the next three years. This reduction in network costs is worth approximately $40,000 per site, per year to large (ICC) consumers. The revised prices will be published on 16th June 2017.
