The Coalition announced its plan for the energy sector on Sunday, saying families, pensioners and low income earners would be the big winners under the proposal, which would fund energy rebates for 1.4 million households.

Mr Souris told the Muswellbrook Chronicle yesterday that if elected, a Liberal-National government would merge the corporate head offices of Energy Australia and Intregral Energy in Sydney.

“There will be no change

whatsoever to Country Energy or country depots,” Mr Souris said.

“There will be no job losses in country NSW and the country depots will be the same and continue doing the same jobs they have always done.”

Mr Souris said the savings made by the merger would fund the rebates, which could be up to $250 a year for some families.

NSW opposition leader Barry O’Farrell said Labor’s failed power sale would send energy prices higher.

“Under our plan, the ‘poles and wires’ will remain in public hands,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“We will cut waste and mismanagement by rationalising the number of distribution businesses from three to two – a single metropolitan and a single regional distributor.”

The Coalition claims the move would save $400 million over four years.

Independent candidate for Upper Hunter Tim Duddy raised concerns jobs would be cut in the region as a result of the plan but Mr Souris denied this.

“If jobs are cut to offer a rebate to families suffering from soaring electricity bills it is an unacceptable and short-sighted response,” he said.

“The government has a role in helping households meet the rising cost of living but rebates should not be funded by job and service cuts.

As part of its election campaign, Labor has promised an energy rebate of $250 for households with a combined annual income of less than $150,000, which would come into effect from July 2012. This applies to singles, families and those in de facto relationships, as well as single and dual income households.