Castlemaine Health has raised its concerns about the rising cost of energy with the state government, which has been criticised in Parliament for failing to account for soaring power prices.

“Based on current usage, we expect our gas and electricity costs to increase by approximately $315,000,” chief executive officer Ian Fisher said. 

He believes the health service is “exceptionally challenged” by its ageing infrastructure, which it it seeking to redevelop.

Castlemaine Health is “actively bidding” for government funding for the project.

“The Department of Health and Human Services recognises the link between the health and well-being of Victorians and the health and well-being of the environment, so we hope to see a positive outcome,” Mr Fisher said.

Heathcote Health has been implementing measures to reduce its energy usage. 

“The Department provided funding in 2015 to enable us to install a solar energy system and a solar water system,” chief executive officer Dan Douglass said.

“We also received an environmental sustainability grant recently which we will use to install additional LED lighting.”

However, he said Heathcote Health was facing increased power charges, “like everyone else in the community.”

“We are working with the Department, as we do regularly, on this as well as a range of other budget-related matters,” Mr Douglass said.

Energy and water efficiency was in mind when the $630 million new Bendigo Hospital was built. 

But it is also larger and filled with more equipment than the old hospital, which a Bendigo Health spokesperson said made the comparison of power bills irrelevant.

Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Peter Walsh, said the additional cost of energy at hospitals in western Victoria was expected to amount to $2 million.

He called on Premier Daniel Andrews to increase funding to regional hospitals to ensure health services weren’t affected by the added financial pressure.

“Rising energy bills add more strain to country hospital budgets that are already stretched thin,” Mr Walsh said.