Printing Industries is urging its members to step up and attend a series of ACCC public forums about electricity supply to protest against price rises that are threatening to “decimate” industry employment levels and send some production offshore.
“The feedback we’re getting from members is that retail electricity suppliers have spent a lot of money paying lawyers to protect themselves so they can hide behind shoddy service and higher prices,” says Mary Jo Fisher, the PIAA’s director, government relations.
“It’s pretty clear that electricity companies have adjusted their prices upwards to counter a decrease in energy usage - so that they avoid a decline in profits. They’re making things as expensive and as difficult to follow as possible.”
Fisher has called on PIAA members to attend the national series of public forums that begins next week in Brisbane.
“One of our members is facing a three-fold increase in their electricity bill and unless they can find another pricing structure, they could be forced to reduce their workforce by ten percent. Many other printers are in similar situations.
"It’s very frustrating that we’re still at the stage where the ACCC needs to hold an inquiry into retail electricity prices. Why is that? Why are the political parties and decision makers just bickering amongst themselves instead of actually doing something to rectify the issues?
“We’re very keen to have members go along to each of these sessions to make their voices heard. Anyone who is interested can contact me directly at maryjo@piaa.org.au.”
PIAA CEO Andrew Macaulay sees energy security as “the single biggest issue facing our industry.”
“Printing Industries has been lobbying at a state and federal level on this issue since October last year, and it is deeply concerning that all sides of politics and all levels of government are still only discussing theories and concepts, not implementing solutions," Macaulay says.
“The impact on the print sector of this woeful public policy has the capacity to decimate employment levels, and potentially move some production offshore.”
The forums begin in Brisbane next Tuesday, 25 July. From there, they head to Adelaide, Melbourne, Townsville and conclude in Sydney on 14 August.
“We invite all energy users to attend these forums in order to raise competition and pricing issues in the retail electricity sector with ACCC Commissioners,” says a statement from the corporate regulator:
The forums will focus on residential and small business customers, but large customers are welcome to attend any of the forums. There will also be a dedicated large customer forum in Adelaide on 31 July.
Following the forums, a summary of issues discussed at the forums will be published on the ACCC website. Names of attendees will not be published. The forum discussions will be closed to the media.
Please note that electricity users who wish to provide information but are unable to attend a forum can contact retailelectricityinquiry@accc.gov.au.
Details:
Brisbane – 25 July 2017
Hotel Urban
345 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill
5-7pm (light refreshments from 4:30pm)
Adelaide large user forum – 31 July 2017
Rydges South Park Hotel
1 South Terrace, Adelaide
1-3pm (light refreshments from 12:30pm)
Adelaide – 31 July 2017
Rydges South Park Hotel
1 South Terrace, Adelaide
5-7pm (light refreshments from 4:30pm)
Melbourne – 3 August 2017
Rendezvous Hotel
328 Flinders Street, Melbourne
5-7pm (light refreshments from 4:30pm)
Townsville – 7 August 2017
Rydges Convention Centre
23 Palmer Street, South Townsville
5-7pm (light refreshments from 4:30pm)
Sydney – 14 August 2017
Radisson Hotel & Suites Sydney
72 Liverpool Street, Sydney
5-7pm (light refreshments from 4:30pm)
For further information and to register, please go to the ACCC website.
The PIAA’s full submission to the ACCC is available here.