Swanbank E gas-fired power station re-opening

6 Sep 2017 2:21 PMMichael Hart

Statement from LNP Shadow Energy Minister, Michael Hart

Wednesday, 6 September 2017

“Today’s announcement from the Palaszczuk Labor Government that the Swanbank E gas-fired power station will be re-opened is an admission power prices are out of control on their watch.

“Electricity prices are now so high under Labor that gas-fired power – the most expensive way to produce baseload power – is viable again.

“Stanwell made the decision to mothball Swanbank E in 2014 because gas was too expensive and the power station was unviable when the price of wholesale electricity was $61 a megawatt hour.　

“Under Annastacia Palaszczuk the price of wholesale electricity has increased by 70 per cent and is now over $100 a megawatt hour, making Swanbank viable again. 　

“But Queenslanders shouldn’t be conned. This is not good news for electricity customers – they are paying record high prices which means this 30-year old, gas-fired power station is viable again.

“This is a desperate measure from a desperate Labor government that has allowed power prices to sky-rocket and has no plan to provide price relief to families and businesses.

“It’s worth noting that the government-owned generator that will run Swanbank – Stanwell – is the same company being investigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for price gouging practices that have ripped off Queenslanders.”

Media contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754