QUEENSLAND'S government is determined to make sure families aren't "kicked in the guts" by unacceptably large electricity price hikes in July.
But Treasurer Tim Nicholls refuses to accept the competition regulator's draft findings, which point to the government's freezing of electricity tariffs last year as part of the reason for the hikes.
The Queensland Competition Authority released its draft determination for 2013/14 power prices on Friday.
Households will be hit with a 21.4 per cent rise; small business with a 15.7 per cent increase from July.
Mr Nicholls says the government is determined to soften the blow.
He's suggested the government could ask generators and distribution firms to absorb part of the costs.
"This is far too much of an increase," he told reporters.
"We are determined to make sure families aren't kicked in the guts by this huge increase."
But the treasurer didn't accept the government's partial responsibility.
"We don't agree with everything the Queensland Competition Authority says," Mr Nicholls said.
"We put (the tariff freeze) in place to save Queensland families."
The state government blames the national energy regulator and the federal government for the hikes.
"It is the result of poor decision making over the last two to three years," the treasurer said.
QCA chairman Dr Malcolm Roberts said along with the lifting of the state government's tariff freeze, green schemes like the Commonwealth carbon dioxide price were behind the increases.
"The QCA understands that price increases are never welcome news," Dr Roberts said.
"The QCA has rigorously assessed the information before it to ensure that the price increases ... are necessary to support a sustainable, competitive electricity market."
Dr Roberts claims most customers have already chosen contracts which usually offer lower prices than the regulated tariffs, and suggested others should follow.
"It makes sense for customers who can change from regulated tariffs to test the market," he said.
Friday's announcement is only a draft determination with a final decision due by the end of May.
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