NOT ENOUGH Mount Isa businesses have filled a survey on how rising electricity prices in the past decade are affecting them.
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Lack of results could indicate officially that Mount Isa businesses are not concerned with power prices.
Yet the Queensland Government has increased electricity prices by 4.1 to 7.4 per cent for businesses. It would increase by 3.1 per cent to 4.3 per cent for households.
The Queensland Electricity Users Network (QEUN) has created the survey which aimed to measure the impact in the regional communities of Whitsunday, Mareeba, Southern Downs, and Mount Isa local government areas.
Each have been chosen for the industries they rely on and Mount Isa was picked to represent a Queensland mining community.
QEUN coordinator Jennifer Brownie said that the organisation needed 200 surveys from each community. Mareeba was the only measured place to return more than the amount needed.
Mount Isa businesses had filled 48 surveys.
The Whitsundays business community had completed 84 surveys and the Southern Downs had completed 87.
Mount Isa is the only tested regional area not connected to the national grid. The QEUN was not concerned about the reliance to Diamantina Power Station in the survey.
“They are part of a regulated retail price,” she said.
Ergon Energy sold the power to customers and is owned by the Queensland Government. It therefore can only charge customers what is set by the government, Ms Brownie said.
“Households across regional Queensland are struggling to pay their power bills and this flows through to the amount of money spent at local businesses and in local towns,” she said.
“Businesses know it’s important to voice their opinion but they struggle to find the time.
“The more surveys received the stronger the voice from businesses.”
Commerce North West president Travis Crowther said he was certain many businesses in Mount Isa would be concerned with power prices.
“I am sure it would,” he said. “Not all businesses. Some are not big consumers of electricity.
“It’s not a small part of their bills,” Mr Crowther said.
“It is a factor especially if they double in price (electricity bills).
“It is money that could be spent on more employees.”
The QEUN seeks surveys from all types of businesses that service the mining, tourism and agriculture communities. These include accountants, health professionals, hotels, and supermarkets. Surveys were due to be completed by Saturday, September 30 on www.qeun.com.au.
Otherwise business representatives could call (07) 4031 2970 to book a time to complete over the telephone.
