RESIDENTS in regional areas are paying up to $600 more a year than those in metropolitan areas, new research has found.

Stress from excessively high power prices is everywhere but it is critical in regional Queensland where households are being charged up to 20 percent more than in Brisbane and businesses up to percent more.

Co-ordinator of the Queensland Electricity Users Network, Jennifer Brownie said that analysis of electricity offers on the Australian Energy Regulator's Energy Made Easy website shows the difference.

Ms Brownlie said the cheapest offer with no discounts for a four person home in Coorparoo, Brisbane is $1,962 per year based on an annual consumption of 6,970 kWh.

"In comparison, a four person home in Cairns with the same level of consumption on Ergon Energy's main residential tariff, Tariff 11, which is set by the Queensland Government pays $2,335 per year or $373 more per year.”

The cheapest offer with no discounts for a small business in Coorparoo, Brisbane is $1,940 per year based on an annual consumption of 6,853 kWh.

A small business in Cairns on Ergon Energy's main small business tariff (Tariff 20) set by the Queensland Government pays $2,573 per year or $633 more for the same consumption.

"On top of this, power bill pain is made much greater in regional Queensland due to the need to use air-conditioning during summer,” Ms Brownlie said.

"Most households and small businesses in regional Queensland are captive to the 100 percent Queensland Government owned Ergon Energy.

"In the last two years the Queensland Government increased power bills in regional Queensland by more than six percent for homes and a massive fifteen percent or more for regional businesses, on top of the previous steep rises over the past 10 years.”

On a scale of one to 10 where 10 is extremely concerned, a survey of regional Queensland businesses for the Queensland Electricity Users Network found that 49 percent rated their high level of concern about paying their power bills in full and on time in the 8 -10 range with 22 percent rating extremely concerned.

"One thing worse than not being able to pay your home power bill, is losing your job because your boss can't pay his power bills,” Ms Brownie said.

"The QEUN survey shows regional jobs are being lost but we are at the precipice of losing substantially more jobs.

"The Queensland Government is using the power bills of regional Queenslanders and the ownership of Queensland's electricity assets as a tax and this has to stop.

"Power bills must fall substantially in Queensland but particularly in regional Queensland where power bills are higher.”

For further information please contact: Jennifer Brownie, Coordinator, QEUN, ph: 07 40312865 or email: admin@qeun.com.au