More than a third of the money Australians hand over to energy giants AGL and Origin for electricity is pure profit for the companies (similar with gas). We should strengthen ACCC oversight and impose penalties for price gouging to prevent energy companies from charging excessive mark-ups. There should also be regulation of network charges to prevent power companies from overcharging households to subsidise business discounts (we currently pay double what business pay for electricity and gas).
The energy market seems very murky and convoluted. The government subsidies (for coal, gas not just for renewables) distort the free market. I think the private companies are feeding off the subsidies but I am not an expert in this area and would like to know more about the intracies. I suppose the other problem is a lack of competition in the market.
Of course, everywhere and everytime
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