Australia's largest energy company calls for renewable energy push

Australia's largest energy company has called on the Federal Government to end its "blame game" over renewable energy.

Catherine Tanna, Managing Director (MD) of Energy Australia, said that energy prices in Australia would continue to skyrocket unless the government embraces renewable energy sources.

"I am worried about our customers and what will happen with their bills," Tanna told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from Energy Australia's headquarters in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"We've seen that customers over the weekend in some places in Australia used 25 per cent more than usual.

"In a couple of months when these bills turn up they are going to get a surprise and I am worried about that because I know that the cost of living is a concern for them."

Tanna said that while renewables were more expensive at the moment, they were the only viable option long-term.

"As at today, newer forms of energy are more expensive than some of the older forms of energy, but over the next 20 years those older, cheaper forms of energy are going to retire," she said.

"That's a reality and that's why we need a plan to transition into those newer forms of energy."

The comments by Tanna came in the wake of Energy Australia, the largest operator of coal-fired power stations in Australia, taking out an unprecedented full-page advertisement in a national newspaper calling for a non-partisan push for clean energy.

Tanna's comments echo the sentiment of a joint statement issued by an alliance of 18 groups, including the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Aluminium Council and World Wildlife Fund.

"We need urgently a national plan to transition to a lower-emission economy," Tanna said. Endit