Consumer watchdog briefs Nats on energy

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims has urged Nationals MPs weighing up energy policies not to get hung up on coal-fired plants.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims

ACCC chairman Rod Sims has briefed Nationals MPs who are considering the government's energy policy. (AAP)

Australia's consumer watchdog has cautioned Nationals MPs against getting sidetracked by any single aspect of overhauling the nation's energy market.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims on Monday briefed the Nationals partyroom as the rural MPs weigh up whether or not to support the National Energy Guarantee.

In an attempt to win support for its signature energy policy, the Turnbull government is fast tracking a recommendation from the ACCC to underwrite investment in new power plants.

The idea was one of 56 contained in a report about power affordability and Australia's competitive advantage in electricity, which was published by the watchdog last month.

Various Nationals MPs have used the recommendation to advocate for new coal-fired plants and baseload power projects.

But Mr Sims said the recommendation was really about government involvement in financing debt.

"It's completely technologically neutral as it should be," he told reporters after briefing the Nationals.

Mr Sims said the full suite of recommendations on improving energy generation, networks, retailing and green issues need to be adopted as a package.

"If you're going to deal with the affordability of electricity you've got to look right across the board," he said.

"You can't just narrow in on one sector or one recommendation."


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Source: AAP



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