Burdekin Households Set For Power Price Relief Under State Energy Roadmap

Burdekin households and small businesses are set to see some long-awaited relief on their power bills, with electricity prices across regional Queensland forecast to drop by close to 10 per cent next financial year.

Under the latest draft determination from the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA), residential electricity prices for regional customers—including those in Ayr, Home Hill and across the wider Burdekin—are expected to fall by 9.7 per cent in 2026–27. Small businesses could see even greater relief, with prices projected to drop by 11.3 per cent.

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The reduction is expected to be welcomed across the Burdekin, where residents and businesses have faced years of rising electricity costs.

The projected drop follows similar forecasts for South East Queensland under the Australian Energy Regulator’s Default Market Offer, which suggests power prices could fall by 10.1 per cent for households and 12.8 per cent for small businesses in metropolitan areas.

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The State Government says the reductions are the result of its Energy Roadmap, which aims to balance maintaining existing infrastructure with investing in new energy generation.

Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said regional communities like the Burdekin deserved to see the same level of cost-of-living relief as their city counterparts.

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“The Energy Roadmap is putting downward pressure on power prices, as we said it would,” Mr Janetzki said.

“Default power prices are set to drop by around 10 per cent throughout the state next financial year.

“The QCA’s draft determination aligns with the deal proposed for the southeast and would see regional Queensland get the cost-of-living relief they need.”

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The Government has also pointed to its $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee, aimed at improving the reliability and performance of existing power stations, as a key factor in stabilising prices.

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While the figures are still in draft form, the QCA will now undertake a period of public consultation before handing down its final determination, expected in late May or early June.

If confirmed, the price drop would mark a shift after years of rising electricity costs, offering some breathing room for Burdekin households and businesses heading into the next financial year.

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