Queensland govt. increases energy tariffs

BRISBANE, Australia, May 28 (UPI) -- Queensland Energy Minister Stephen Robertson stated he has no intention to reduce a 13 percent rise in electricity prices.

Robertson's action is raising protests because it is in his power to repeal a planned increase, the Brisbane Times reported Friday.

The new tariffs will increase the average residence's quarterly electricity bill by nearly $50, up to $397. The Queensland Competition Authority approved the tariffs increases, arguing that the new rate was necessary to balance "customer acquisition and retention costs" for electricity retailers.

The new rate is 4 percent higher than a 9 percent price rise was approved by the Australian Energy Regulator, which earlier this month approved more than $12 billion for infrastructure upgrades for the two state-owned electricity providers over the next five years.

Despite failing to intervene to block the rate increases, Robertson told journalists that he was disappointed by the QCA's decision and said: "Our government knows the huge impact that electricity price hikes will have on the average household. Many people in our community are doing it tough and the price increase announced by the independent QCA today will place additional strain on their weekly budget."