Keech Australia Garth Keech said the casting and foundry business paid about $110,000-$120,000 for power each month, compared to about $30,000 eight years ago.

The business designs, engineers and casts products, for industries such as mining, railway, engineering, agriculture and defence.

In Mr Keech's words, "If you kick it, and it hurts, we can make it".

Mr Keech said the rise in power costs had eaten into the company's bottom line.

The company can't pass the rise in production costs on to its customers because it has to compete with the world market, he said.

Mr Keech said the company was one of probably two or three foundries left in Australia manufacturing the type of castings they do.

He said the rising costs of power affected any business using power.

"The biggest issue as I understand it is the lack of supply, or the thought that there is going to be a lack of supply," Mr Keech said.

"Having gone to this privatised model where you have to hedge your bet and guess what the price is going to be, and buy electricity two or three years out in advance.

"Sometimes you buy it and then the price comes down, it makes live a bit more challenging."

Mr Keech said he would like to see planning from the government on how to address new power stations.

He made the comments during a visit from leader of the opposition Anthony Albanese to Keech Australia.

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