There will be change in power prices: PM

9 Aug 2012, 4:27 pm   -   Source: AAP
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says there will be changes to power pricing by December. (AAP)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says there will be changes to power pricing by December. (AAP)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says now is the time to act on power pricing and there will be changes by December.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has vowed there will be changes by December to make sure Australians aren't paying too much for power.

Ms Gillard says it isn't surprising the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has said people are paying too much for power.

AER chairman Andrew Reeves was referring to regulatory arrangements between the state and federal governments, she said.

"Of course, that's one thing that needs to be squarely on the table as we move towards the December Council of Australian Governments meeting where I want to see action," Ms Gillard told ABC Radio.

"No change is not on the table, we have to see change," she said.

Ms Gillard said she was heartened to see that NSW and Queensland were acknowledging there was a problem.

"We've got to take that movement, build on it and translate it into action that makes a difference to power price rises," she said.

Now was an important window to consider change because price determinations would be made in the first six months of next year that would affect the next five years.

Ms Gillard said Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was now at odds with his state Liberal colleagues over the issue of power pricing.

"It seems that the leader of the opposition is the only person who's denying that there is a problem with the current system," she said.

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