But he said customers would need to take it up with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission if they believed their power company owned them money because changes were not passed on,

Mr McArdle made special mention of the federal government legislative repeal during his hearing, saying it would reduce the increase of Queensland household power bills from about 13 per cent to just over 5 per cent.

LNP committee members responded to Mr McArdle's announcement with a "hear, hear".

But in a statement released moments later Mr McArdle also pointed the finger at his political opposition.

"What's really disappointing is that Labor's Queensland senators yet again voted against the repeal of the carbon taxshowing once and for all that they will only stand up for their Green mates, not Queensland families," he said.

Households across the state could expect to save $170 in their annual power bill, he said.

But the government won't have the authority to force power retailers to pass on the changes.

"The ACCC have the legal authority," he told media during an estimates break.

"We'll certainly be urging all retailers to move very quickly to give back to consumers the carbon tax they have already collected. This bill now applies from 1 July 2014 and we will expect them to move very quickly and we would urge them to do now as a matter of urgency."

Mr McArdle, who has never been as critical of Clive Palmer as some of his colleagues, delivered some backhanded praise to the Palmer United Party leader.

"Clive Palmer made a commitment to work with the government to remove the carbon tax, he has done so, Labor has stuck by their message of not helping Queenslanders lower their carbon costs,'' he said.

But Mr McArdle was much less friendly towards Labor MP Tim Mulherin inside the committee room, with the two going toe-to-toe over gold plating.

While chairman David Gibson did his best to reign the two in, the pair spoke over one another as they argued on whether the minister had provided an example of gold-plating.

"Can you give an example of gold plating, minister?" Mr Mulherin asked.

Mr McArdle replied: "Beg your pardon?''

"Can you give an example of gold plating?'' Mr Mulherin repeated.

"Well what I would say gold plating is, is this, is that there may well be a situation, where a piece of equipment exists, and another piece of equipment exists somewhere that is not required...and therefore, the cost involved in that new piece of infrastructure is added to the bill of every consumer in the state,'' Mr McArdle said.

Mr Mulherin continued: "Well, minister, so the people of Queensland can understand what your getting at, give us an exact example of where we may have engineered, or duplicated an asset...can you give an example of that?''

"Well, I think the Member is trying to be a little bit half-smart, the Member is acutely aware that gold plating is the duplication of infrastructure across this state, that his government allowed to be put in place... ," Mr McArdle said.

"Just hold on, the member should be acutely aware that the debt levels, of Powerlink, Ergon, Energex, reached over $12 billion, an increase of double from 05/06 to 10/11. That infrastructure was not required to that particular standard or that particular level and the member is acutely aware that the network charges comprises of the largest component, the largest component, of any portion of a power bill."

Mr Gibson cut in to try and bring the pair back on track, but Mr McArdle read from a newspaper article where Julia Gillard had criticised gold plating and the argument resumed, until Mr Gibson cut in again.

"Gentlemen," Mr Gibson said.

"As tempting as it is to use this forum to debate, it is not the purpose of estimates.  We are here to examine the appropriation bill. Member for Mackay, you have the call."

Mr Mulherin expressed his discontent with how Mr McArdle had dodged the question and moved on.

By the time the minister reached the media, just a short time later, he was able to name the duplication of power lines between Longreach and Charleville as an example of gold plating.