Western NSW's peak business organisation is calling on the next NSW government to do more to combat high energy costs.
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Both businesses and households in the region are under enormous strain from the high prices, Western NSW Business Chamber reports.
It has added its voice to the NSW Business Chamber's call for the removal of all state taxes and levies on energy bills as one of a number of measures a new government should take after the March 23 poll.
"It's a very challenging time for business - high prices are placing an enormous strain on business viability and household budgets," Western NSW Business Chamber regional manager Vicki Seccombe said.
"The current situation is unacceptable and simply unsustainable.
"The chamber's last two Business Conditions Surveys identified that 90 per cent of businesses ranked affordable and reliable energy as a top concern.
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"That's why cutting the cost of energy for families and businesses in NSW should be a primary focus ahead of the next state election - particularly when much of Western NSW is already doing it tough due to the current drought.
"The next NSW government needs to be implementing real reforms to improve access to reliable and affordable energy - to deliver energy savings for business while improving energy security."
Among the other proposed measures are improving planning certainty and streamlining planning processes to boost the supply of new energy projects to provide more affordable base load power.
The chamber also wants commercial tenancies legislation amended to assist cost and profit sharing between tenants and landlords for investment in renewable energy.
Increasing gas supply through additional natural gas production and/ or liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation is also among its proposals.
"Reducing the cost of energy is a key plank of the NSW Business Chamber's plan to Keep NSW Number 1," Ms Seccombe said.
"In the lead up to the state election... cutting energy costs for business and residents should be a primary focus for all political parties."
The NSW Farmers' Association has also long put energy on the agenda, saying in January "the cost of electricity is crippling our regional economies".