PM demands states ease power impost
PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has defended criticism that she was silent on the issue of rising electricity prices while Labor was in power in New South Wales and Queensland.
Ms Gillard has blamed power companies and state governments on big spikes in electricity prices.
She has demanded states find solutions to take pressure off household power prices by the end of the year or face market watchdogs with greater powers to enforce changes.
But the Prime Minister was asked today (Wednesday) why federal Labor had waited until now to speak up on the issue, despite years of the party being in power in NSW and Queensland.
“We’ve had a lot of technical work happening over the past few years on all of these issues, but now is the moment to act,” she told Sydney media, adding that price determinations affecting power bills will be made next year.
“Now is the moment to strike,” she says.
Energy ministers have been working hard on the issue for some time.
“But we are moving to a stage now where decisions will be made that affect power prices for the next five years,” Ms Gillard says. | 
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