Power prices could mean big losses for South Australian growers
The Central Irrigation Trust is struggling with a $1.3 million surge in its electricity costs and will be forced to pass on the rise next financial year.
It is holding meetings to warn its 3000 households and 1300 growers of the hike, but chief executive Gavin McMahon said almond, citrus and grape growers were also being forced to shoulder power costs hitting companies that pack and process their fruit.
“We are trapped. This year the costs will have to be passed through, and that means our customers have to find the money, and that will come out of our community and go somewhere else,” he said.
The trust’s total cost for power used to pump water and pressurise its piping network was $5 million this financial year, compared with $2.5 million five years ago, accounting for about 35 per cent of costs.
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