Energy suppliers working to regain trust with consumers should stop pretending, says Electrical Trades Union secretary Allen Hicks.

“These energy companies don’t get it. The problem is not one of perception, it’s one of putting private profit over the public’s need,” he says.

Allen states that the new energy industry charter, a solution created by the current government aimed at tackling power blackouts caused by ageing coal-fired generators,  is merely a cover for the out-of-date systems in place that benefit the privatised market and no one else.

Sydney recently saw a power failure after 40°C weather and other houses in NSW were privy to blackouts when energy costs soared and outdated generators couldn’t keep up. New policies from the government have failed to produce energy efficient solutions, which consumers say is the form of action people need. Allen believes the actual problem will remain unaddressed while politicians such as energy minister Angus Taylor, continue to skirt the issue.

“The privatised energy market is failing the Australian people as prices continue to rise and reliability of coal-fired generators decreases, but all these companies are offering is a fig leaf to ensure bad practices and high prices continue,” he says.

“Angus Taylor dropped his ‘big stick’ and ran last year. But instead of spending past weeks coming up with an adequate plan for Australia’s energy woes, he’s parroting that under-writing more coal-fired power with taxpayer funds is the best idea.”

Allen says that instead of using taxpayer’s money to pay for more coal-fired generators, we should be coming up with renewable energy solutions instead.

“Over the coming decades more than 16,000MW of coal-fired power will be removed from the market, replaced by wind, solar, pumped-hydro and battery storage,” he says.

“We don’t need taxpayers paying for old technology. We need firm policies in place now to help the skilled energy sector workers transition away from coal to renewable energy.”