Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, said the Coalition must guarantee that local Country Energy employees will not lose their jobs as a result of the Opposition's long-awaited energy policy.

"The Coalition announced at the Sydney launch of its election campaign yesterday that it would pay for its tiered household rebate program by merging the distribution businesses of Energy Australia, Integral Energy and Country Energy," Mr Besseling said.

"Country Energy employees must be guaranteed the merger won't cost local jobs.

"We received a jobs guarantee from the State Government after it announced the retail arm of Country Energy would be sold; now we need to see a jobs guarantee from the Coalition.

"It's important we get that guarantee immediately as this policy has the potential to affect many more workers in Port Macquarie than the retail sell-off.

"The energy distributer has about 1000 employees in Port Macquarie and is a major contributor to the local economy.

"And while I welcome any move to reduce the cost burden on householders, it's a pity neither side of politics did anything to redress the skyrocketing price of energy before the election campaign.

"When they had the chance to have input into a draft report on electricity prices, on behalf of their communities, just four of the state's 93 MPs bothered – and all of them were Independents."