Media Release

Monday 6 April 2009

Energy crisis: NSW heading for the dark ages

The recent power failures in Sydney are only the beginning of the electricity supply problems facing NSW because of the shorted-sightedness of NSW’s politicians, according to the NSW Business Chamber.

“These power failures are only the start of what we are in store for over the next decade if we don’t act fast to secure our energy supply,” said Kevin MacDonald, CEO of NSW Business Chamber.

“Both the Government and the Opposition have dropped the ball when it comes to securing the energy supply in NSW.

 “Businesses need guarantees that the lights will stay on, not just today, but 10 and 20 years from now.  Those assurances are simply non-existent except for empty political promises that something will be done.”

Mr MacDonald said that NSW faced a power deficit by 2014-15 if the NSW Government didn’t move quickly to allow the private sector to start construction of new baseload generators.

“We are deeply concerned that there will be an exodus of business investment out of NSW well before we start to run out of power if the current plan to supply additional capacity doesn’t work.

“The Government must make it very clear to business what their backup plan is if they cannot secure private investment for additional power generation.” Mr MacDonald concluded.